Ons Jabeur바카라s steady progress from year to year 바카라 up the tennis rankings, through the draws of various tournaments and, now, at Wimbledon 바카라 has carried her to a Grand Slam singles final, the first woman from Africa to make it that far in the professional era.
The No. 3-seeded Jabeur, a 27-year-old from Tunisia, got past her good friend Tatjana Maria 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in an up-and-down semifinal at a sun-splashed Centre Court on Thursday.
Jabeur is on quite a run right now: She has won 11 consecutive matches and 22 of her past 24. Since pro players were first admitted to major tennis tournaments in 1968, never had an African been to a final. She also is the first Arab woman to get that far.
바카라I바카라m a proud Tunisian woman standing here today. I know in Tunisia, they바카라re going crazy right now. I just try to inspire, really, as much as I can,바카라 she said. 바카라I want to see more and more 바카라 not just Tunisian 바카라 Arab, African players on tour. I just love the game and I want to share this experience with them.바카라
Jabeur will face 2019 champion Simona Halep or No. 17 seed Elena Rybakina for the championship on Saturday. Halep and Rybakina were scheduled to play their semifinal at the All England Club later Thursday.
The men바카라s semifinals are Friday, with three-time defending champion and No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic facing No. 9 Cameron Norrie of Britain, and 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal against unseeded Nick Kyrgios. Nadal shed doubt on whether he바카라d even be able to show up for his semifinal after struggling through a five-set victory over Taylor Fritz on Wednesday.
Nadal held a limited practice session Thursday, mostly sticking to forehands and backhands. When he did try serving, which was a real problem a day earlier, he did so without using full force or throwing his body behind his deliveries.
Jabeur has been rising in the tennis world in recent seasons. In 2020, at the Australian Open, she became the first Arab woman to reach the quarterfinals at a major. Last year produced all sorts of milestones: first Arab player to break into the top 10 of the men바카라s or women바카라s rankings, first Arab to win a WTA title and a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon.
Now she바카라s done that two steps better.
바카라I really don바카라t know what to say. It바카라s a dream coming true from years and years of work and sacrifice. I바카라m really happy it바카라s paying off,바카라 Jabeur said through a wide smile. 바카라One more match now.바카라
When she closed out the biggest victory of her career, she and Maria 바카라 a 34-year-old mother of two from Germany who is ranked 103th 바카라 met at the net for an extended hug. Jabeur whispered something in her pal바카라s ear. Then, after depositing her racket on the sideline, Jabeur returned to the middle of the court for the usual victor바카라s wave to the crowd 바카라 except, instead of going alone, she playfully tugged Maria along with her, an uncommon gesture.
바카라I definitely wanted to share the moment with her at the end, because she바카라s such an inspiration for so many players, including me,바카라 Jabeur said. 바카라Coming back after having two babies 바카라 I still can바카라t believe how she did it.바카라
Before their semifinal, Jabeur and Maria stood beside each other, waiting to take the walk through the halls of the stadium that lead to the court. Close as they are, the pair avoided exchanged any glances or chatter.
Close friends, yes. On this day, opponents, too, with quite the setting, stage and stakes.
Neither had been to a Grand Slam semifinal previously. Maria never had been past the third round in any of her 34 prior appearances at major tournaments 바카라 and she only got that far once, at Wimbledon in 2015.
The two hang out together frequently. They are, to use Jabeur바카라s term, 바카라barbecue buddies.바카라 Jabeur knows Maria바카라s two daughters so well that the German referred to her as 바카라Aunt Ons.바카라
Maybe that바카라s why neither played displayed much in the way of emotion during the match, even after terrific points. Sure, Jabeur put her hands on her hips and Maria smiled sheepishly after one lively exchange with both at the net. And Jabeur held her left fist overhead after one particularly difficult yet effective running, twisting forehand across her body for a passing winner. Maria raised her right arm after going up 5-2 in the second set.
They offer unusual brands of speed-mixing, variety-filled tennis. On the second point of the match, Jabeur won a point by using a drop shot on a return of serve. Maria loves to hit slice forehands; Jabeur, quite capable of powerful groundstrokes, joined in on that occasionally.
After such a strong first set, Jabeur was far less effective in the second. Perhaps it hit her just how close she was to getting to the final.
Suddenly, mistakes began accruing rapidly. Her serving was less self-assured. Maria took full advantage. And then, just as suddenly, Jabeur switched back to her best self, pulling out to a 5-0 edge in the third in 20 minutes.
After 17 unforced errors in the second set, Jabeur made a remarkably low total of three the rest of the way. Maria simply could not keep up.
