MY ACCOUNT
Ons Jabeur fought back from one set down to reach her first grand slam semi-final in impressive fashion, beating Marie Bouzkova 3-6 6-1 6-1 in the pair’s Wimbledon quarter-final contest.
The second seed recovered from an error-strewn start on Centre Court to see off the 23-year-old Czech in quick time, recording her 10th consecutive grass-court win and her 21st victory in her last 23 outings.
Jabeur also became just the second African player to reach the final four at Wimbledon in the Open Era, and the first since Yvonne Vermaak in 1983, after dominating the last two sets.
Bouzkova, whose second-round exits in each of 2022’s previous slams represented her previous best major performances, showed no signs of nerves when breaking in just the fifth game of the opener.
Jabeur’s frustrating start eventually saw her succumb to a second break, dropping the first set, when she followed a double fault with two errors 41 minutes in, but she stepped up in remarkable fashion to take the match away from her opponent thereafter.
The world number two needed just over half an hour to take the second set 6-1 before forcing Bouzkova into a decisive backhand error to claim an early break in the decider.
That was the first of three successive breaks for the Tunisian, who hit a powerful backhand to go 4-0 up in the third before doing likewise after Bouzkova managed to hit back with a break of her own.
Jabeur then confidently served out the contest to love, and after setting up a last-four clash with world number 103 Tatjana Maria, will be widely considered the favourite to clinch the title.
Data Slam: In-form Jabeur demonstrates grand slam credentials
When Iga Swiatek was dumped out by Alize Cornet in the third round on Saturday, most onlookers immediately looked to Jabeur as the new favourite to take the Wimbledon crown.
After a shaky start, Jabeur lived up to that billing with an imposing performance in the last eight. Only Swiatek (44) has posted more wins than Jabeur’s 35 on the WTA Tour this year, while no female player can match her tally of 83 wins since the start of the 2021 campaign.
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
– Bouzkova 14/17
– Jabeur 30/27
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
– Bouzkova 0/1
– Jabeur 0/2
BREAK POINTS WON
– Bouzkova 3/5
– Jabeur 6/9
