Jabeur makes history to reach Wimbledon final

London, Jul 7 (EFE).- Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur beat German Tatjana Maria 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the Wimbledon semi final on Thursday to qualify for her first ever Grand Slam final.

The win sees third seed Jabeur become the first Tunisian, Arab and North African to play in a Grand Slam final, after she also made history last year by reaching the quarterfinals.

After a splendid start in which she outplayed Maria, Jabeur had to recover against the veteran German and mother of two daughters.

Maria, 36, whose younger daughter was born in 2021, was fighting to become only the second woman in history to win Wimbledon after giving birth, and the fourth in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam as a mother.

But Maria will not be able to match Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong and Kim Clijsters. She took the second set 6-3, but Jabeur hit back in the third, taking a 5-0 lead and sealing the second match point she had to finish 6-1.

“I really don’t know what to say. It is a dream coming true from years and years of sacrifice. I am really happy that it is paying off, and I continue for one more match now,” Jabeur said on court.

The Tunisian, the world number two will face either Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina or Romania’s Simona Halep in the final. EFE

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