West News Wire: Ons Jabeur, a Tunisian tennis player, defeated Elena Rybakina by a score of two sets to one on Wednesday in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
In order to go to the Wimbledon semifinals, the 28-year-old defeated the third-seeded reigning champion 6-7 (5), 6-4, and 6-1.
After the Belarusian Sabalenka defeated the American Madison Keys in straight sets earlier, Jabeur will now face the second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals on Thursday.
Jabeur expressed her joy at the outcome to BBC Sport.
“I’m pleased with the performance very much. There was a lot of emotion present, especially when playing against a strong server.
“It’s frustrating to be back, but I’m pleased I did everything yelled, became enraged, then remained cool and concentrated. I’m hoping I can maintain this emotional control during the remaining games.
Jabeur was raised in the neighbouring beach city of Sousse after being born in the small hamlet of Ksar Hellal in northern Tunisia.
She began playing tennis at the age of three thanks to her mother, who enjoyed the game. Due to the paucity of courts in tennis clubs, she frequently trained at hotels and vacation destinations.
“Her parents have done everything in their power to assist her, often going over their budget. Yet, her uncle Mohamed Jabeur told MEE last year, “We did not anticipate her to go far.
“We simply could not imagine that she would be able to match up with rivals from countries which, contrary to Tunisia, invest in sport.”
Jabeur began competing in national tournaments aged six, and internationally four years later. Aged 12, she moved 90 miles to Tunis, where she trained at Lycee Sportif El Menzah, a multi-sport national academy for emerging Tunisian talents.
She made her debut in a junior Grand Slam tournament at the US Open in 2009, and the following year reached the final of the junior French Open.
It was in 2011 when she came to international attention, winning the French Open girls’ championship to become the first Arab woman to win a junior Grand Slam title, as well as the first Arab since Egypt’s Ismail El Shafei won the Wimbledon boys’ tournament in 1964.
