Photo: Instagram.com/onsjabeur
Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur has become the first Arab player to get to the Grand Slam semi-finals, after competing with Czech player, Marie Bouzkova in three sets at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
Although the game had an elusive start, the player successfully won against Marie Bouzkova 3-6, 6-1 and 6-1 and will play Germany’s Tatjana Maria on Thursday. “I am really, really happy especially that it happened on this court because I have so much love for this court. Hopefully the journey for me will continue,” said the Tunisian in her on-court interview after the match. Jabeur is currently ranked the second in the world. “I knew she would make me work to win a point, she is a talented player and I am really happy I woke up in the second set and I played much better in the third set,” added the 27-year-old.
When asked to comment on her next game with Maria, she said, “She is my BBQ buddy,” and added, “It is going to be tough to play her, she is a great friend, I am really happy she is in a semi-final – look at her now, she is in a semi-final after having two babies, it is an amazing story.” Jabeur will be playing with Maria for a spot in the final after the latter defeated fellow German player Jule Niemeier 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
The moment Ons Jabeur reached her first Grand Slam semi-final#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/c7z6F9UUYw
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2022
Bouzkova put up a good fight in the beginning of the Wimbledon quarter-final with a stolid defense in the first set and also broke twice to take the opening set, but Jabeur made a strong comeback to level the match with three breaks in the second. Keeping up with the pace, Jabeur broke again twice to secure a 4-0 lead and won eight straight games before the Czech ceased the impetus by getting a break back. Although a minor setback, Jabeur got back on track again with another break in the next game and continued the winning streak.
