Ons Jabeur has become the first African woman, and the first Arab player, to reach a grand slam final after defeating Germany’s Tatjana Maria in three sets at Wimbledon.
Jabeur, 27, won 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in an hour and 43 minutes and will face the winner of the second semi-final between Elena Rybakina and Simona Halep.
“I don’t know what to say – it’s a dream come true … from years and years of work and sacrifice,” Jabeur said in an on-court interview.
After running away with the final set, the Tunisian player took a moment after marking her own success to ensure the crowd also celebrated the achievement of her great friend Maria, who had reached her first grand slam semi-final barely a year after the birth of her second child.
Quick Guide
How do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts?
Show
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhones or the Google Play store on Android phones by searching for ‘The Guardian’.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the yellow button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
“She has to make me a bbq now to make up for all the balls she made me run for!” she joked, before adding: “I wanted to share the moment with her at the end … she is such an inspiration to me, coming back after two babies. I still can’t believe how she did it.”
Paul MacInnes’s report will follow here
