This contest ended in a long, lingering hug. Two first-time grand slam semi-finalists, two women with powerful stories, two friends embracing over the net. Both would have been deserving victors and each wanted to acknowledge the success of the other, but there could be only one winner. And so Ons Jabeur overcame Tatjana Maria 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to progress to Saturday’s women’s singles final, the first African to do so.
After the hug, there was another celebration, Jabeur pulling Maria up from her seat to take the applause of the Centre Court crowd. Maria, 34, has been celebrated for the way she has returned from the birth of her second child last year to attack the courts of SW19 this past fortnight. Her play here was unrelenting and often a delight, especially in the second set where she found a burst of form to draw level in the match. Jabeur had to gird herself to go again, but go again she did and now sporting history awaits.
