Daria Kasatkina won the Kremlin Cup as qualifier Ons Jabeur narrowly failed to become the first WTA winner from Tunisia on Saturday.
Jabeur was a set and a break up at 4-1 when she seemed to tire in her eighth match in as many days, allowing Kasatkina to win 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4 with vocal support from the home crowd.
The exhausted Jabeur served the last game with severe cramp and tears in her eyes.
"I saw you gave everything today and this is what sport is about," Kasatkina told Jabeur.
"When I was a little girl 10 years ago, I was coming to this tournament and dreaming of being champion one day," the 21-year-old Russian said. "Thank you to everyone who believed in me."
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