Western & Southern Open: Kvitova beats Jabeur to reach quarters
Jabeur has lost to Kvitova four times, including a 6-1, 6-2 victory in Cincinnati the year before.
Jabeur has lost to Kvitova four times, including a 6-1, 6-2 victory in Cincinnati the year before.
Rybakina won the second set 6-2 after breaking Ons Jabeur twice. After winning the first set 6-3, Jabeur faltered in the second as Rybakina took control.
It is a classic clash of the two distinct styles -- Rybakina, at 6-feet-0, hits the ball hard, with tempo and timing. Jabeur is shorter but is a magician with the racquet, routinely making unbelievable shots with power and precision.
With the win, Jabeur becomes the first Tunisian, first Arab and first African woman to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open Era.
A year after reaching the last-eight in a historic first for Arab women, Jabeur, the third seed at The Championships, went one step further in 2022, reaching the semifinals at a major for the first time and setting up a last-four clash against Tatjana Maria of Germany.
Serena, the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, last competed at Wimbledon nearly a year ago, when she was forced to retire in the first round due to an injury against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.
Following Jabeur's victory, Halep defeated American teenager Coco Gauff for the second time this year at a WTA 1000.
