Rabat – Moroccan tennis player Yasmine Kabbaj achieved a major victory on Wednesday. She qualified for the quarter-finals of the 24th Princess Lalla Meryem Grand Prix.
Kabbaj defeated Germany’s Tatjana Maria in straight sets. Maria entered the tournament as the number three seed.
The Moroccan player won the match with a score of 6-4, 6-4 in the round of 16.
A strong performance in Rabat
Kabbaj delivered a powerful performance against one of the tournament’s top-ranked players. This victory confirms her excellent form this week. In the first round, she also won in straight sets against Turkey’s Berfu Cengiz.
The tournament takes place on the clay courts of the Club des Cheminots in Rabat. The singles and doubles competitions of the Princess Lalla Meryem Grand Prix will continue until May 23.
What is Princess Lalla Meryem Grand Prix
The Princess Lalla Meryem Grand Prix is an international women’s professional tennis tournament held annually in Rabat, Morocco.
Founded in 2001, the tournament was originally played in Casablanca. Over its history, it relocated multiple times across Moroccan cities, including Fez and Marrakech, before establishing its permanent home in the capital city of Rabat.
Named in honor of Princess Lalla Meryem, the sister of King Mohammed VI, it represents the only Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour stop on the African continent.
WTA Category
The tournament is classified as a WTA 250 Tournament, an entry-level professional tennis tournament on the WTA Tour. The next levels are WTA 250, 500, and 1000.
The number “250” signifies that the tournament champion receives 250 ranking points.
These tournaments, formerly known as WTA International events, form the backbone of the professional tour and are designed to help players build their rankings and gain main-draw experience.
Playing surface
The event is contested on outdoor red clay courts, a slow surface made of crushed brick and shale to slow down the ball and cause it to bounce higher, favoring players who rely on stamina, heavy topspin, and baseline defense rather than fast, powerful serves.
Current venue and draw size
Since 2016, it has been hosted permanently at the Club des Cheminots in Rabat. The main tournament features a 32-player singles draw and a 16-team double draw.
Calendar slot
It is a vital part of the spring clay-court swing, taking place in mid-to-late May, just before the French Open
The Grand Prix remains the only WTA Tour event held in North Africa. It serves as a vital competitive bridge for local talent like Kabbaj to compete against world-class athletes on home soil.
