Jabeur upsets home favourite Andreescu to join Pliskova, Sorribes Tormo in Montreal quarters

Jabeur will meet American Jessica Pegula for a spot in the semi-finals

MONTREAL, QC – AUGUST 09: Ons Jabeur (TUN) returns the ball during the first round WTA National Bank Open match on August 9, 2021 at IGA Stadium in Montreal, QC Credit: Icon SMI / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

August 13, 2021

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur battled for more than two and a half hours against defending champion and home favourite Bianca Andreescu on Thursday evening to move into the quarter-finals of the Omnium Banque Nationale in Montreal.

Jabeur was up a break twice in the first set but it was Andreescu who managed to pull ahead in the tiebreak by seven points to five. The pair remained close in the second set as well by splitting the first four games.

In the eighth game of the second set, Andreescu required a medical time after hurting her left foot while trying to retrieve one of Jabeur’s shot. The Canadian quickly went down in pain and was in tears before getting back on the court after receiving medical attention.

Compassion ❤️@Ons_Jabeur x @Bandreescu_ #OBN21 pic.twitter.com/1Y4JZDKt1O
— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 13, 2021

“Pretty happy with the way I stayed mentally and physically very ready” – Jabeur

The Tunisian, enjoying her best season and now ranked a career-best No 22, managed to win the next two games to level the match and dominated proceedings in the third set to complete the 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 win.

Jabeur said she was happy that she did not let the medical timeout or the rain delays affect her game and concentration in the match.

“It was a tough one. I know coming to play Bianca here in Montreal, in Canada, was going to be difficult. But I think I played good tennis. I had my opportunities in the first set. But I’m glad that I did good in the second and third set and I didn’t let the rain, the injuries, stopping all the time, make me lose my focus. I’m pretty happy with the way I stayed mentally and physically very ready.”

Wimbledon runner-up Pliskova beats Aminisova to reach the last eight

Also on Thursday, Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-1, 7-6(8) win over American qualifier Amanda Anisimova.

She next meets Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo, who avoided an all-Czech quarter-final with a 6-7(4), 6-0, 6-3 over Pliskova’s countrywoman Katerina Siniakova.

The Spaniard is enjoying her best season on the WTA Tour, having moved into the top 50 after winning her first WTA singles title in Guadalajara, and reaching the Miami Open quarter-finals. Pliskova holds a 1-0 lead in career head-to-head against Sorribes Tormo.