Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
LONDON, Tunisian trailblazer Ons Jabeur became the first Arab woman to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals with a dazzling 5-7 6-1 6-1 victory over seventh seed Iga Swiatek today. Jabeur lost four games in a row from a position of strength to concede the opening set but responded in sensational fashion to outplay last year’s French Open champion.
The 26-year-old has now beaten three Grand Slam champions so far here, taking out five-time Wimbledon winner Venus Williams and Spain’s Garbine Muguruza during her impressive run.
In doing so she has endeared herself to the Wimbledon crowds with a wily game full of variety but also power when required.
Jabeur will contest her second Grand Slam quarterfinal tomorrow against Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka, having reached her first in Australia in 2020.
While that was viewed as a surprise, even by herself, the Tunis-based player has reached at least the third round of every subsequent Grand Slam tournament and became the first Arab woman to win a WTA title on the Birmingham lawns last month. “My goal is to break this quarter-final and be able to go to the semi and why not the final? I’m enjoying my time here in Wimbledon, enjoying the grass a lot,” she said. — Reuters
