Rising US talent, Alycia Parks, is one of the big climbers for the updated rankings list this week. The 22-year-old has made a jump of 28 ranking positions, rising from No. 79 all the way up to a career-high World No. 51.
The Atlanta-born Parks owes the rise to her superb showing at the WTA 250 tournament in Lyon last week. Parks took the title in brilliant style on Sunday, beating home favourite Caroline Garcia and the vociferous French crowd in two tight sets.
En route to the final, the young American defeated fourth seed Petra Martic, as well as the 7th seed, Danka Kovinic. But she saved her best tennis for when it mattered most, overpowering the 2022 WTA Finals champion with some blistering serving, finishing the match with an impressive total of 15 aces.
Parks has been somewhat on the radar of American tennis for some time as a potential promising future talent. It appears those hopes have sky-rocketed after the tennis on exhibition in Lyon over the past week.
A keen and accomplished doubles player, Alycia Parks had never before won a professional WTA singles title at senior level, despite frequently dominating the challenger circuit.
The trajectory of this young player is clear to see. At the start of last season, Parks was ranked 214th in the world. Over the course of 2022, a steady and solid set of results at a lower level, combined with some impressive streaks on the WTA circuit, gave rise to a career-high season's finish of 75.
What will come as even greater satisfaction for the Atlantan local is that her modest ranking appeared to be slipping at the turn of this year, as she failed yet again to qualify for the main draw of a Grand Slam.
But any concerns here have been instantly rectified with Parks' powerful display of mental and physical strength to claim a maiden WTA title.
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