Sask. tennis star Chavez soaks in ‘amazing feeling’ of first pro title in Saskatoon

Less than 48 hours after the biggest win of her tennis career, Teah Chavez is still sorting through all calls, messages and notes she’s received since the weekend.

“It’s been a little crazy,” Chavez said. “My phone has been off the hook a little bit, but I’m super thankful for that.”

The Regina product is still trying to put words to a historic victory, not only for herself but for Saskatchewan tennis as a whole.

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At the Riverside Tennis Club in Saskatoon on Sunday, Chavez celebrated the first victory of her professional career 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the singles final of the Saskatoon Pro Tennis Classic against fellow Canadian, Ariana Arseneault.

A win she’s been dreaming of her entire tennis career, achieved in front of a provincial crowd just hours down the road from where she grew up.

“Winning (in Saskatchewan) in front of my family and the home crowd, it was just an amazing feeling and something I’ll never forget,” Chavez said. “It’s something that I’ve been dreaming of ever since I was little.”

Chavez reached the singles finals of the W35 challenger event after victories over Margaret Sohns in the first round, Erika Sema in the second round, Miho Kuramochi in the quarter-finals and Jia-Jing Lu in the semi-finals.

Like she did in the semi-finals against Lu, Chavez fell behind early, but was able to use the break between the first and second sets to her advantage.

“I just wanted to come back, refocus and come out swinging in the second (set),” Chavez said.

“I obviously was behind in the second, but I think I found my footing and what works for me. I just started swinging out more, going for my shots.”

Chavez nearly gave the deciding third set away after staking herself to a 5-1 lead, but was able to close out the match with a strong serve which forced Arseneault to return the ball wide.

“When I heard the ref say out I was like, ‘Oh, it finally happened,’” Chavez said.

“I looked over at my dad who was in my seat, it was surreal. I just couldn’t believe that it happened and I kind of blacked out a little, I’m not going to lie to you.”

Chavez is the first Saskatchewan woman to win the Saskatoon Pro Tennis Classic singles event since the tournament’s official launch in 2019.

“My name is going to be on that trophy for a long time,” Chavez said. “Being from Saskatchewan, it’s something that I’ve always been super proud of.”

Chavez came close to sweeping the entire Saskatoon event, as she and partner Scarlett Nicholson lost in the doubles championship final to Americans Alyssa Ahn and Kaya Moe on Thursday.

The 20 year old is hoping to use the week she had in Saskatoon as a launch point, much like 2022 and 2023 champion Victoria Mboko who is ranked 12th in the world and became the third Canadian to win the National Bank Open.

While Chavez was not able to secure a wildcard berth into the 2026 National Bank Open event in Toronto, she has been chosen to compete at the 2026 Odlum Brown VanOpen this week in Vancouver, which is a W125 ranked event meaning even tougher competition.

“I have a lot of momentum going into it,” Chavez said.

Regina tennis star, Teah Chavez, made the most of home court advantage at the Riverside Tennis Club by winning the singles event at the Saskatoon Pro Tennis Classic. (Teah Chavez/Instagram)

“I just want to keep doing what I was doing last week. I’m not taking it too seriously, I’m just having fun playing tennis. I think that’s something that we kind of lose sight of.”

Chavez has enjoyed a breakthrough season on the court, named the Big 10 women’s tennis player of the year after she completed her junior NCAA season at Ohio State as the fifth-ranked athlete in the country.

Currently ranked 950th in the world, Chavez was able to take down opponents ranked hundreds of spots ahead of her in Saskatoon, which has boosted her confidence greatly.

“That just gives me a lot of motivation and belief in myself that I can play with these top girls,” Chavez said. “I have the ability to win these tournaments, so I’m trying to take that into each match and believe in myself.”

While the points earned in Saskatoon this week are helping to boost her professional career, it’s the reception she received after her landmark victory Sunday is what is going to stay with Chavez.

“I’m really thankful to be from (Saskatchewan),” Chavez said. “It means so much because of the people there, the people make me who I am. They taught me all my life lessons and they really make me who I am today.”