Ons Jabeur reached the Wimbledon final with victory over her close friend Tatjana Maria
(Picture: Getty Images)Ons Jabeur proved too good for her “barbecue buddy” Tatjana Maria as she booked her place in the Wimbledon final.
The world number two joked in the build-up to the match that she had been trying to turn Maria’s children against their mother, with the two friends spending plenty of time with each other over the past fortnight.
They were together for three entertaining sets on Centre Court, as Jabeur reached a Grand Slam final for the first time with a 6-2 3-6 6-1 victory. She will face either Simona Halep or Elena Rybakina.
Maria‘s run to the semi-finals was a remarkable one. She was ranked No 311 in the world at the end of January, having returned from maternity leave just under a year ago. There is surely no player that has produced more backhand slices than her across the tournament, a weapon that sent the likes of Maria Sakkari and Jelena Ostapenko packing. Lots of variety was on show in this last-four match too, with volleys and drop shots aplenty, but Jabeur ultimately had more tools at her disposal.
It took Maria eight minutes to hold in the opening game of the match and although she saved three break points, the tone had been set. More chances quickly came for Jabeur and she moved a break up, as a double fault followed by a slice into the net cost Maria dearly.
Every service game was a battle for the German and the double break came in the seventh game of the match, as Jabeur whipped a forehand down the line and Maria had no response. That left Jabeur to serve for the set and she did just that, aided by a couple of aces as she moved halfway to victory.
That was never likely to worry Maria though. The German saved two match points before getting the better of Ostapenko earlier in the tournament, and was a break down in the third set against Jule Niemeier in the quarter-finals before battling her way to victory. Once again, the response came.
Maria brought up her first break point of the match, helped by a flurry of unforced errors from Jabeur, and needed no second opportunity as she took a 4-1 lead in the second set. The German had the chance to level the match up on Jabeur’s serve as she brought up a break, and set, point, but was briefly kept at bay. Three more set points swiftly arrived for Maria though, this time on her serve, and she got the job done as Jabeur produced her 17th and final unforced error of the set.
Barely ten minutes of the third set had been played before Jabeur rushed into a 3-0 lead. The shots that were bringing unforced errors in the second set were now clipping the line and she found an early break to take control. It was soon a double break for Jabeur, as an smash from Maria on break point was so wayward it left her friend having to take evasive action standing beyond the baseline.
Maria at least ensured bagels of the tennis variety will not be discussed at the next barbecue, but Jabeur shows no signs of nerves as she served for the match. Nobody has won more matches than Jabeur on the WTA Tour over the past two seasons - one more and she will be a Grand Slam champion for the first time.
