United States Open | Ons Jabeur advances to semi-finals by beating Ajla Tomljanovic

(New York) Tunisian Ons Jabeur, 5^e world champion and finalist at the last Wimbledon, qualified for her first US Open semi-final on Tuesday by beating Australian Ajla Tomljanovic (46^e), Serena Williams’ faller at 3^e round, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).

“I knew it would be physically and psychologically difficult, especially with these repeated breaks and unbreaks,” commented Jabeur, who showed signs of nervousness.

“I apologize for my attitude, but the racket slipped from my hand,” she said with a big smile.

In total, the Tunisian took the serve of her opponent five times, who herself managed four breaks.

In the 2^e round, Tomljanovic served at 5-3 to equalize at a set everywhere, but she sabotaged her service game and offered the break to Jabeur following a double fault.

So that the two players came to the tie-break.

“I knew that the tie-break would be played on one or two points. I was lucky that she committed a double fault” which allowed Jabeur to break away 5/3 in this decisive game, commented the Tunisian.

“Capable of winning a Grand Slam”

At 28, she will try Thursday to climb for the second time in her career in the final of a Grand Slam tournament, by facing the French Caroline Garcia (17^e) or the American Coco Gauff (12^e).

“I’m going to watch their game hoping they play five or six hours and kill each other!” “commented, smiling Jabeur.

More seriously, she stressed that the final played at Wimbledon this summer had “gave her confidence”.

“I lost, but I know since then that I am capable of winning a Grand Slam tournament,” said Jabeur, the first African player to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows in the Open era (since 1968 ).

Until then, she had never exceeded the 3^e turn in the New York Major.

For her part, Tomljanovic was playing her first quarter-final of the New York Major at the age of 29, where she had never passed the 3^e round.

She has already played Grand Slam quarter-finals twice, at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2022, without managing to climb into the last four.

But the 2022 edition of the US Open will remain marked for her by her victory at 3^e round against Serena Williams in an incandescent Arthur-Ashe arena, in a match that should go down as the last of the American’s career to 23 Grand Slam titles.