Jabeur conquers Madrid Open, reaching biggest milestone for an African tennis player in 24 years

Twenty-four years after South Africa amanda coetzer Won the Charleston title—in the Tier I category at the time, equivalent to the current WTA 1,000—an African player re-registered his name in a tournament of this entity, the most important after four Grand Slams.

Jabeur is the first Tunisian tennis player to enter the top ten in the world, and the first Arab tennis player, male or female. eighth finalist Miamifinalist Charleston and quarterfinalist StuttgartThe Tunisian extended his moment in Madrid and will appear in seventh place in the world rankings on Monday.

Despite the first scan seeded While the previous rounds featured high-quality tennis in the final of the tournament, the 10th and 14th players in the world were busy with offensive play and quick changes.

Staying true to the style demonstrated since his start in Madrid, Pegula frequently used the net when he served or when Jabeur’s comebacks gave him a chance. But he found the perfect setter and had to slow down and try more. deep blows

The American scored first call, 3-1, later consolidated. He then lost his next serve and the match resumed.

After the recital of the goals scored by Carlos Alcaraz in the Novak Djokovic match, which ended minutes ago on the same field, Jabeur did its part. exhibition He got a good win against Pegula and from one of his best shots.

At 5-4, the Tunisian’s poor serve almost cost the set. Restored by three lightning strikes equality and the momentum of the mini-spin allowed him to leave the Pegula empty and close the set with his serve.

Jabeur carried the weight of the game in mistakes. He suddenly lost touch with dropshots and others, and Pegula began writing scores first and then games. He learned the lesson of the first manga, this time the ground was not allowed to be eaten. A failed fall by Jabeur doomed him’thread‘.

With 27 years Jabeur and 28 Pegula, neither would have feared the prospect of playing for the title in the third set, neither in the prime of their long careers.

This Tunisia He ended his opponent’s streak with a break to start. But he dropped his next serve and broke again on the next. The game was broken, but the advantage was for Jabeur and that was enough for him to stay.

Pegula tried to throw the blows into the lane, but her opponent got it all. a new ‘to break‘ gave him an almost certain 5-2. It was, Jabeur was already inspired by the hood’s immediacy. had passed one hour 54 minutes.

Originally scheduled for the afternoon, stuck in between men’s semifinals, the women’s final went to prime time thanks to Alcaraz-Djokovic’s three and a half hours.

jabeur first arab woman He is the first player to reach the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam in Australia in 2020 and win the WTA title in Birmingham in 2021. It was the only one so far in Madrid.

On the way to the final, he beat three players with a negative balance: the Swiss Belinda Bencic (11) Romanian Simona Aleppo and Russian EKaterina Alexandrova. He drew with Pegula in two wins.

With Jabeur, Africa has returned to the list of top tournaments between 1990 and 2008, which were designated as Tier I; From 2009 to 2020 they were named Premier Mandatory anyone Premier 5 and from 2021 they are called WTA 1,000.

In 1998 Amanda Coetzer won the Romanian final in Charleston. Irina Spirlea With 6-3 and 6-4. Coetzer. The South African spent ten years in the top ten players in the world, finishing number 3 in November 1997 and winning nine singles and nine doubles titles throughout his career.

from him, none african player It had acquired the title of importance of cattle today by Jabeur.

Tunisian replaces Belarus in the winners of the Madrid tournament Arya Sabalenka. Before the 2020 hiatus due to the pandemic, Dutchman Kiki Bertens won in 2019, Czech Petra Kvitova in 2018, and Romanian Simona Halep in 2017 and 2016.

Kvitova holds the record victoriesthree in 2011, 2015 and 2018.