By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka swept Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-3 to streak into her first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon.
Photo credit: Getty
Swinging a massive 111 mph body blow, Aryna Sabalenk's serve knocked Ons Jabeur to the turf and brought the Belarusian match point.
Driving the ball with bruising intent, Sabalenka hit through Jabeur 6-4, 6-3 rolling into her maiden major semifinal at Wimbledon.
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Playing beneath the closed roof, Sabalenka's jolting drives reverberated throughout Centre Court. Sabalenka channeled her power with precision stinging 26 winners against 20 errors and denying six of seven break points. Sabalenka raised her record to a WTA-best 34-10 shattering her label as best player yet to reach a Slam final four while solidifying her status as a capable contender.
"I'm really happy with this win; it's always tough matches against Ons," Sabalenka said. "She's such a great player, amazing person so it's tough to play against her and I'm really happy I could win today. The atmosphere was unbelievable today."
Expect a loud crowd on Centre Court when the second-seeded Sabalenka faces Karolina Pliskova for a spot in Saturday's final.
Earlier, Pliskova crushed Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-2 powering into her first Wimbledon semifinal without surrendering a set. Sabalenka has won both prior meetings vs. Pliskova, but both have been tight three-set affairs, including a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 win on the grass of Eastbourne in 2018.
"Doesn't mater what happened in the past—in tennis you never know especially on WTA Tour what's gonna happen," Sabalenka said. "It's going to be a tough match. She's a great player serving well and her game fits really well on grass. It's going to be tough, but I'm really looking forward to this match."
The 23-year-old Sabalenka arrived at SW19 with a history of hitting her way out of Slams—she'd failed to surpass the fourth round in 14 prior career majors—but she measured her shots shrewdly on pivotal points today overpowering an increasingly weary Jabeur.
In her inspired run to the elite eight, Jabeur knocked off three Grand Slam champions in a row—Venus Williams, Garbine Muguruza and Iga Swiatek—and the physicality of those battles combined with Sabalenk's rib-rattling power drained the first Arab woman to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Sabalenka scorched the Tunisian's second serve winning 16 of 23 Jabeur second-serve points.
A massive opportunity between the 2021 WTA victory leaders saw both women stay in step on serve through nine games. In the 10th game, Sabalenka used a sharp-angled return for a second set point. Streaking near mid-court she Undaunted, Sabalenka was behind the baseline when she ripped a forehand winner for a third set point. Forcing a mid-court ball from her opponent, Sabalenka was in prime position to end the set but slid a hesitant backhand drop shot wide. Continuing to force the issue, Sabalenka stretched it to a sixth deuce then blasted a backhand crosscourt for a fourth set point. Skimming the net with a low backhand, Jabeur erased another set point.
The depth of Sabalenka's crackling return earned her a fifth set point. This time, the Belarusian wound up and banged a crosscourt forehand right into the corner ending a gripping 20-point game to take a one-set lead.
Sabalenka won 15 of 17 first-serve points in the 36-minute opener. When Jabeur missed her first serve, Sabalenka was scorching the second delivery taking 10 of 14 points played on the Tunisian's second serve, including the last eight in a row.
The first Arab woman to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals needed a fast start to the second set and earned it jumping out to a love-40 triple-break point lead. Sabalenka snuffed out the uprising unloading some of her heaviest serves as she rolled through a hard-fought hold then immediately earned triple break point.
The 21st-seeded Jabeur hung tough saving two break points, but slipped and fell netting a running forehand as Sabalenka broke with a shout for 2-0—her fourth game in a row.
Touch helped Jabeur stop the slide as she dabbed a drop shot winner to break right back.
Looking leg-weary when forced to run wide, Jabeur was dipping drop shots trying to shorten points as she fought back to level after four games. Jabeur earned a break point in the following game, but Sabalenka stood tall under stress holding for 3-2.
Seeing the fatigue in her opponent, Sabalenka amped up her aggression. Jabeur tried drop shotting off a deep return but netted it and banged her Wilson racquet off her shoe in frustration facing another break point.
Attacking behind a backhand drive volley, Sabalenka buried a backhand into the corner wreaking the crucial break for 5-3.
A 111 mph body blow serve knocked Jabeur off her feet and gave Sabalenka match point. Sabalenka sent a screaming backhand down the line securing her spot in the semifinal after one hour, 13 minutes.