Ons Jabeur writes history with Madrid Open triumph
The world number 10 was behind 4-1 in the first set and didn't win a point in the second, but she nevertheless overcame American Jessica Pegula 7-5 0-
MADRID: Ons Jabeur of Tunisia won the Madrid Open after overcoming a mid-match battle to become the first African player to win a WTA 1000 title.
The world number 10 was behind 4-1 in the first set and didn't win a point in the second, but she nevertheless overcame American Jessica Pegula 7-5 0-6 6-2.
After winning in Birmingham last year, this is Jabeur's second career triumph.
She was the first Arab player, male or female, to reach the top ten in the world.
Pegula, the world number 12, had to save four break points in her first two service games before applying more pressure to the Jabeur serve and breaking for a 3-1 lead.
In the seventh game, the Tunisian fought back, finding her range on the return and quickly catching up to Pegula.
In an error-plagued 10th game, Jabeur had a set point but held, then broke Pegula to love with a classic drop-shot return and finished out the set on the 54-minute mark.
Pegula was in trouble early in the second set, but she batted away three break opportunities and then went on to sweep the next six games in less than 30 minutes.
The first three games of the finale went against Jabeur's serve until she finally consolidated a break to go up 3-1, and she maintained her momentum from there, sinking to her knees to claim the victory.
Comments