By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Contesting her 21st major, Ons Jabeur beat Marie Bouzkova 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 to charge into her first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon.
Photo credit: Getty
Inspired by a fast first step and remodeling urge, Ons Jabeur transformed Centre Court into a fun house.
Jabeur deployed dizzying drop shots and audacious angles displacing Marie Bouzkova 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 to drive into her first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon.
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The Tunisian trailblazer dubbed “Minister of Happiness” by fans in her home country was wearing a semifinal smile of joy today.
“I’m really, really happy especially that it happened on this court because I have so much love for this court,” Jabeur said in her on-court interview afterward. “Hopefully for me the journey will continue.”
The Berlin champion played brilliant combinations mixing her forceful forehand crosscourt with drips and dabs of drop shots. Jabeur doubled Bouzkova’s winner output—30 to 14—and had the ball on a string by the latter stages of a one hour, 47-minute triumph.
“I know she was gonna come and really make me work to win a point,” Jabeur said. “She’s a talented player. I’m really happy I woke up in the second set and I played much better in the third set.”
It’s Jabeur’s 10th consecutive grass court win and propels her into a semifinal showdown vs. barbecue buddy Tatjana Maria.
The 103rd-ranked mother-of-two Maria continues her fairy tale trek through the field. In the third all-German Grand Slam quarterfinal in the Open Era, the 34-year-old Maria edged Jule Niemeier 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Returning from maternity leave a year ago, Maria saved match points toppling 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round and now faces off against her friend in the biggest match of both of their lives.
How will the world No. 2 respond shouldering immense expectation as massive favorite? If Jabeur can summon the kind of magic she showed over the final two sets today, she should be fine.
Bouzkova had won 30 of her last 31 service games going up a break at 4-3 today.
Running down a dropper, Bouzkova flicked a running back into the corner to save a second break point. The 66th-ranked Czech soared for a smash battling back from 15-40 down to hold for 5-3.
Contesting just her third Wimbledon main draw, Bouzkova played with the poise of a veteran. Across the net, a jittery Jabeur was feeling the pressure of being the clear favorite.
Bungling a couple of netted drop shots around a wild double fault, Jabeur gifted the break and 41-minute opening set to the Czech.
A clean ball striker, Bouzkova committed only four unforced errors in her 7-5, 6-2 win over Caroline Garcia in the fourth round. Striking with self-assurance, Bouzkova made just six errors compared to 14 for Jabeur in the set.
Dropping a set for the first time this fortnight, fired Jabeur into action. The two-time quarterfinalist was swinging through her forehand with more conviction breaking right out of the box to open the second set.
The 2014 US Open girls’ champion double-faulted away a second break and 4-1 lead to the Tunisian.
The graceful groove Jabeur found had her free flowing as she flicked a forehand drop shot return winner off a first serve. Dripping an insanely clever dropper off the sideline—the shot was initially called out but Jabeur successfully challenged the call—brought the Tunisian triple set point. Jabeur sealed a superb set to force a decider.
Bouncing on her toes behind the baseline, Jabeur was beating Bouzkova to the ball. The Tunisian’s skill delivering a dizzy mix of hard and flat with soft underspin kept Bouzkova off balance.
Jabeur ladled a drop shot like a woman dropping a spoonful of sugar into a cup of tie for break point then banged out the break for a 2-0 lead in the decider. Soft hands, slick racquet skills and the savvy to force her opponent play low balls from peculiar positions saw Jabeur breeze through a love hold backing up the break for 3-0.
A buzzing Jabeur ended the match flying high into a reunion with an old friend.
“I love Tatjana so much—her family is amazing—she’s my barbecue buddy,” Jabeur said of Maria. “It’s gonna be tough to play her obviously, but she’s a great friend.
“I am really happy for her that she’s in the semifinals. She’s one of the examples I wish players would look up to her because she really suffered to play and to win rounds in Grand Slams. Look at her now: she’s in the semifinals after having two babies, it’s really an amazing story.”