In an all-Australian showdown at Hollyburn Country Club, third seed Taylah Preston captured the Odlum Brown VanOpen women’s singles championship with a commanding 7-6(5), 6-3 victory over eighth seed Madison Inglis. The 89-minute match crowned Preston as a WTA 125 champion following a week of excellent tennis.

The opening set was a battle of endurance and composure, with both players holding firm under pressure to push the score to 6-6 before Preston seized control in the tiebreak.

“It was a really tough first set,” Preston said of the opener. “I had a couple chances earlier… but I think (by) just sticking to what I was doing, not worrying about that, and just focusing on what I could do in that tiebreak and just staying on task really helped. I was able to get through it.”

That discipline paid off throughout the match, particularly on return. While both players generated multiple break opportunities, Preston converted on four of her six break point chances and dominated on Inglis’ second serve, winning 62.5 percent of those points. Preston was also clutch on defence, saving six of the nine break points she faced to seal the victory.

Facing a familiar opponent in her fellow Perth native made the victory all the more meaningful for the newly crowned champion.

“I always knew it was going to be a tricky match. Maddison has been playing unbelievable this year and especially throughout this week,” Preston noted. “So I knew it was going to be tough and I was going to have to be ready to play. But I’ve had a lot of really great matches that set me up well for this one, and I was just really happy to get there.”

Beyond the trophy and ranking points, the win is big for the 20-year-old’s burgeoning career – and a reflection of the dedication behind the scenes.

“It means so much,” Preston shared. “(My coach and I) have been putting in a lot of hard work, you know, showing up every day and just working hard. So to be able to see it paying off is great and I’m super grateful.”

The championship also highlights an inspirational moment for the rising Australian star, who hopes her success on the court can inspire young athletes coming up behind her.

“It’s amazing. I think that’s one of the best parts about playing is we get to inspire so many young girls, just like girls like (Maddison) did for me, especially both being from Perth,” she reflected. “So, if I can inspire more young girls to pick up a racket and to play, I think that’s really amazing.”

Though winning the title meant sacrificing playing at the National Bank Open in Toronto, Preston is focused squarely on momentum as her summer continues.

“I’m really excited for what’s coming up,” Preston added. “Unfortunately, I missed out on Toronto because I was still playing here, but (there are) still a lot of exciting tournaments coming up, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Photo credit: Bo Mon Kwan