Onsward – Trailblazing Jabeur dispatches Bouzkova to reach maiden Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon

Ons Jabeur won against Marie Bouzkova 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 on Tuesday evening. She’ll face Tatjana Maria in the next round

Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 5, 2022 Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur reacts during her quarter final match against Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova || AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Tennis Majors

July 5, 2022

Third-seeded Ons Jabeur rallied from a set down to defeat 66th-ranked Maria Bouzkova 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 on Centre Court to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon on Tuesday. With the victory, Jabeur stretches her grass-court winning streak to 10 victories.

The 27-year-old Tunisian trailblazer, currently seeded third and ranked at a career-best No 2, continues to make history for her country, the Arab World and Africa as the first woman from the African continent to reach a Wimbledon semi-final since 1983 and Yvonne Vermaak from South Africa.

I knew she was gonna come and really make me work to win a point
Ons Jabeur

“I’m really, really happy and especially that it happened on this court,” Jabeur told the crowd. “Because I have so much love for this court, and hopefully the journey for me will continue.”

Jabeur turned the match on its ear after the first set, winning 12 of the final 14 games as she delighted the Centre Court crowd with a dizzying array of drop shots and sublimely crafted variety.

30 winners by Jabeur

“I knew she was gonna come and really make me work to win a point,” Jabeur said. “She’s a talented player and I’m really happy that I woke up after in the second set, and I played much better in the third set.”

Jabeur cracked 30 winners against 27 unforced errors in the one hour and 47-minute contest – she hit 20 winners against 13 unforced errors in the final two sets.

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in action during her first round match against Sweden’s Mirjam Bjorklund (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

Jabuer advances to face German Cinderella story Tatjana Maria in the semi-finals. The 34-year-old mother of two, ranked 103, defeated compatriot Jule Niemeier, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, to book her first Grand Slam semi-final on her 35th main draw appearance earlier on Tuesday.

The Tunisian had high praise for the German, who is one of the many players on tour that she counts as a good friend.

Facing Tatiana “BBQ Buddy” Maria in the semis

“I love Tatjana so much and her family is really amazing,” she said. “She’s my barbecue, buddy. It’s gonna be tough to play her obviously, but she’s a great friend. I am really happy for her that she’s in the semi-final. I know she’s one of the examples that I wish players will look up to her because she really suffered to play and to win rounds in Grand Slams and look at her now – she’s a semifinalist after having two babies, it’s really amazing story.”

Jabeur is the only top-10 player left in the Wimbledon women’s singles draw. She has won her last ten matches at the Slams against players ranked outside of the top-100.

Wimbledon : Other quarters-finals