‘Emotional’ Jabeur enters final
MADRID: Eighth seed Ons Jabeur advanced to the biggest final of her career with an impressive 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Madrid Open on Thursday.
The Tunisian followed up wins against Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and former world No.1 Simona Halep with just her second success in eight meetings with Russia’s Alexandrova to move into a maiden WTA 1000 final. “It was a very emotional match. For those who don’t know, I have a 1-6 record against her. So it was a tough match mentally,” said Jabeur.
“But I’m glad that I pulled the win today. I played really good, I was ready for the right moments and hopefully I can continue playing at this level for the final.”
The first Arab player in history to crack the top 10, Jabeur will meet American 12th seed Jessica Pegula in today’s title match.
Pegula ended the run of Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 victory in the second semi-final.
It will be her first final at this level and first in a singles final since losing to Serena Williams in Auckland in January 2020.
In the men’s event, Rafael Nadal said he drew inspiration from Real Madrid’s heroic comeback against Manchester City less than 24 hours previously as he survived a scare from David Goffin, saving four match points en route to a tight 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (11/9) victory.
The win kept alive Nadal’s quest for a record-extending sixth title in the Spanish capital and earned him a spot in the quarter-finals, where he faced his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz last night.
Seventh seed Alcaraz celebrated his 19th birthday with a battling 6-4, 6-7(4/7), 6-3 over British world No.11 Cameron Norrie.
On Wednesday, Real scored in extra time to stun City 3-1 to set up a Champions League final with Liverpool later this month.
“Yesterday has been an unforgettable night. The spirit that the Real Madrid team have is just incredible and for me today in some way has been an inspiration,” said the 35-year-old, who attended the game at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Teen phenom Alcaraz said: “I dream of being the best, and I fight for it. And to be the best, you have to beat the best. I believe that I am ready for this challenge.”
Earlier, former world No.1 Andy Murray was forced to pull out of his last-16 match against top-ranked Novak Djokovic, citing food poisoning.