Wimbledon: Ona Jabeur ends Tatjana Maria's Wimbledon madness
Ons Jabeur (WTA No. 2) is in the final of the 2022 Wimbledon tournament. She won the first semifinal match on Thursday against Tatjana Maria in straight sets.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jul 07, 2022, 04:26 pm
Tatjana Maria's Wimbledon fairy tale is over: The 34-year-old lost in the semi-finals to second in the world rankings Jabeur 2: 6, 6: 3 and 1: 6 - in an entertaining, mostly high-class match.
Both players started cautiously, with the expected amount of slice and feel - with Maria initially using her forehand more often than usual. However, she had to fight more for her service games, Jabeur had a little more power in the shots. Sensational the point at 2: 4: Jabeur with a volley stop with a lot of backspin, which dripped over directly behind the edge of the net, but it was Maria's turn and felt that she was making a counter stop and not running into the net herself. To the great enthusiasm of the spectators on Center Court. But Jabeur took the lead in the set.
The match then turned in round two. Jabeur had increasing problems with Maria's forehand slice, which she often put into the net; Maria also continued to score spectacular points, including at the net. However, she did not take the momentum into the decision, Jabeur, now almost flawless, quickly pulled away 3-0 and finally 5-0.
Jabeur on Maria: "She is an inspiration"
Great scene after the game, when the two friends lay in each other's arms for a long time and finally Jabeur pulled Maria back onto the pitch and pointed to her so that the audience could applaud again.
Jabeur meets the winner of the game between Simona Halep and Elena Rybakina in the final.
"A dream came true after so many years of hard work and hardship," said Jabeur. "It was harder to run after all of her balls. She owes me a barbecue now," Jabeur joked when asked how difficult it was playing against Maria as a close friend. "She's an inspiration. I hope she keeps it up."
SkyWimbledon2022Article
Tatjana Maria with sensational Wimbledon
For Maria it was still the greatest success of her career: she had only reached the third round of a major tournament once before, so now the semi-finals. And that after she gave birth to her second daughter in April 2021 and returned to the tour late in the year.
Maria had defeated Maria Sakkari and Jelena Ostapenko on the way to the final - the latter after saving two match points.
Jabeur has never made it this far in a Grand Slam tournament either, she will play her first final on Saturday.
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