Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur Continues Historic Run by Reaching Australian Open Quarterfinal

Sports

January 26th, 6:59am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur reacts after winning a point against China's Wang Qiang during their fourth round singles match at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP)

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur continued to make history at the Australian Open by advancing to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 7-6 (4), 6-1 win over No. 27-seeded Wang Qiang on Sunday. Jabeur had already become the first Arab woman to reach the fourth round at a Grand Slam event with her win over former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki - a match that sent the Danish star into retirement. Jabeur cracked the last eight with her 77-minute victory over Wang. Sunday's match turned the tables of their rivalry, as Wang had won both of their two previous meetings in routine straight sets, including a 6-0, 6-3 victory earlier this month in Shenzhen. This time around, though, Jabeur conquered her opponent, blasting 29 winners to Wang's 11, and winning a far higher percentage of second-serve points than the Chinese player could muster. Wang, following up her sterling victory over seven-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams, more than doubled her winner count with 23 unforced errors on the day, and was unable to break Jabeur's serve in the second set after losing the tight opening frame, where she held one set point. World No.78 Jabeur will now face No.14 seed Sofia Kenin of the United States in the quarterfinals, with a first Grand Slam semifinal spot on the line for each of them. Jabeur, 25, lost in the first round in her two previous trips to the Australian Open, and her best previous run at a major was to the third round at the 2017 French Open and at last year's US Open.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2099911/tunisia%E2%80%99s-ons-jabeur-continues-historic-run-reaching-australian-open