By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday September 2, 2022
Ons Jabeur rallied past Shelby Rogers to book her first trip to the round of 16 in New York.
Photo Source: Getty
Flushing Meadows, NY—It started as an episode in giant killing, as American Shelby Rogers, the woman who vanquished World No.1 Ash Barty last year in New York (from 5-2 down in the third), surged ahead of Ons Jabeur on Louis Armstrong Stadium on Friday.
It ended as a crisis averted.
Fifth-seeded Jabeur, the Tunisian trailblazer who became the first Arab woman to ever play a Wimbledon final earlier this summer, surged past 31st-seeded Rogers to earn a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 triumph on Day 5.
At first it looked to be another Rogers’ party in Flushing Meadows. The American had already engineered four Top-20 wins at the Open since 2017, and she was in control of Jabeur for a set and a half.
But the Tunisian stormed back, winning 30 of 40 points at one time, to take control of the contest and book a first trip to the second week at the US Open.
Jabeur, one of two WTA players to have earned at least 40 victories in 2022, has been having a magnificent season. And she will have a chance to make it even better when she meets Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova in the round of 16.
If things go well next round, a quarterfinal showdown with Serena Williams could be waiting for her.
Earlier this summer in Birmingham, Jabeur spent some quality time with Williams on the doubles court. It was an experience she will never forget.
“I got to know a very nice person,” she said. “We got a little bit closer. She's really unbelievably nice. I'm very, very lucky that she texts me from time to time to encourage me. Especially after the run in Wimbledon, she really was there, texted me, was very nice.
“I got to practice with her here also, which is unusual for Serena. Again, being part of her tennis career, maybe at the end, yes. I'm just very lucky. I hope we can get little bit closer so she can give me some advices as a tennis player and also as a businesswoman. I'm really intrigued with that.”
Jabeur improves to 3-0 against Rogers with her win. She hit 29 winners against 38 unforced errors and dominated the short points, winning 73 points of four or less strokes compared to 49 for Rogers.