Tunisia's Ons Jabeur becomes first Arab woman to enter a Grand Slam singles semis

LONDON: Tunisia's world No.2 tennis player Ons Jabeur rallied from a set down to defeat Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 at Wimbledon to become the first Arab or North African woman to reach a Grand Slam singles semifinal.

A year after reaching the last-eight in a historic first for Arab women, Jabeur, the third seed at The Championships, went one step further in 2022, reaching the semifinals at a major for the first time and setting up a last-four clash against Tatjana Maria of Germany.

Across both men's and women's tennis, Arabs and North Africans were previously winless in major quarterfinals in the Open Era, including two losses by Jabeur herself; she lost to eventual champion Sofia Kenin at the 2020 Australian Open, and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon 12 months ago.

Maria also came from a set down to beat fellow German Jule Niemeier in the other three-set quarterfinal. Maria and Jabeur will play for the first time in four years.

"I was hoping that I could get to this stage for a long time already. I struggled few times in the quarterfinal," Jabeur was quoted as saying by wtatennis.com. IANS

Also Read: Malaysia Masters: PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy move into second round; Saina Nehwal knocked out

Also Watch: