US Open
Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur reached the final at the US Open in New York on Friday night in very different ways. While the Tunisian Wimbledon finalist Jabeur was able to save energy in just 66 minutes in her surprisingly clear semi-final victory against the Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, the world number one Swiatek then had to fight hard for the dream of the title.
In the end, the Pole still won 3:6 6:1 6:4 against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and made it into a Grand Slam final for the third time. There she meets Jabeur on Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “It’s always tough against them. I’m sure it will be a very physical game. She has good shots, is very solid from the baseline,” said Swiatek after her 56th victory this year: “I have to be careful.”
The two-time French Open winner had a weak start against Sabalenka – the toilet break after the lost first set was the rescue. “I remember when I used to cry in the toilet only when I was losing. This time I thought about what I can change,” revealed the 21-year-old.
Jabeur takes semi-final hurdle in a hurry
Two and a half hours earlier, Jabeur had bought the final ticket, in the 6-1 6-3 win against Garcia the 28-year-old was hardly challenged in just over an hour of play. Now, like two months ago, she is playing in Wimbledon in the final for her first Grand Slam title. She lost the final in London to Jelena Rybakina.
“It feels insanely good. After Wimbledon there was a lot of pressure on me, I’m very relieved,” said Jabeur on the pitch. At the subsequent press conference, the fifth in the world rankings revealed that she could enjoy this final a lot more. “It feels more real,” said Jabeur, “I kind of lived a dream at Wimbledon and I couldn’t believe it.”
Jabeur is the first African player to reach the final of the US Open in the pro era. The disappointing Garcia ended a 13-game winning streak in the biggest game of her career so far. Before the first serve, a minute’s silence was held at Arthur Ashe Stadium in honor of Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II.
US Open in New York
(USA, 27.915.200 Dollar, Hardcourt)
