07 July,2022 08:00 AM IST | London | AFP
World No.2 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia returns to Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic during their Wimbledon quarter-final at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on Tuesday. Pics/Getty Images
World No.2 Ons Jabeur became the first Arab woman to reach the semi-final of a Grand Slam on Tuesday, setting up a Wimbledon meeting with her "barbeque buddy" Tatjana Maria.
The Tunisian went one set down to Czech opponent Marie Bouzkova but lost only two games after that as she powered to a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 win on Centre Court.
Earlier, mother-of-two Maria also dug deep to beat German compatriot Jule Niemeier 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 despite losing the first set and trailing by a break in the second and third sets.
Jabeur is the only remaining player seeded in the top 15 left in the tournament at the All England Club. The 27-year-old said she was happy that she "woke up" after a disappointing first set.
"I am really, really happy especially that it happened on this court because I have so much love for this court. Hopefully, the journey for me will continue," she said. But she explained that it would be difficult to face 34-year-old Maria, whom she described as her "barbeque buddy."
"It is going to be tough to play her [Maria], she is a great friend. I am really happy she is in a semi-final - look at her now, she is in a semi-final after having two babies. It's an amazing story," she added.
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The Tunisian, who had not lost a set in her run to the quarters, was broken twice by 66th-ranked Bouzkova in the first set. But, it was a different story for the rest of the match as she broke her opponent's serve six times, hitting 30 winners - more than twice her opponent's tally.
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