Ons Jabeur reaches U.S. Open semis; Coco Gauff falls

[September 07, 2022] No. 5 seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia continued her history-making season Tuesday by defeating Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open in New York.

Jabeur will face French No. 17 seed Caroline Garcia, who ousted 12th-seeded Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-4 in another quarterfinal match.

Jabeur, 28, became the first African or Arab woman to reach the U.S. Open semifinals in the Open era. Six weeks ago, she reached the final at Wimbledon, the first African or Arab woman to reach a final at any Grand Slam event.

"I was just trying to do my job and hopefully inspire more and more women from Africa," Jabeur said. "Really it means a lot to me."

Jabeur broke Tomljanovic's serve five times in six opportunities. The Tunisian also won 22 of her 31 first-service points (71 percent) and led Tomljanovic 29-12 in winners.

Tomljanovic led the second set 5-3 before Jabeur fought back to tie it at 5-5 and 6-6. The Australian got ahead early in the tiebreaker, 2-1 and 3-2, before Jabeur won three straight points to take the lead for good.

"I believe in myself after Wimbledon," Jabeur said in her on-court interview. "I know that I have it in me to win a (major) final. And here I am in the semifinals.

"I kept repeating to myself (in the tiebreak), 'I can, I can.'"

Tomljanovic eliminated Serena Williams in the third round of the tournament in what was likely the final match of Williams' career. The Australian then defeated Liudmila Samsonova of Russia to reach her first U.S. Open quarterfinal.

In the nightcap, Garcia extended her winning streak to 13 matches when she topped Gauff in an hour and 37 minutes.

Garcia won 29 of her 37 first-service points (78.3 percent) and 13 of 16 net points (81.3 percent) while edging Gauff in total winners, 24-18.
 

Garcia won the Western & Southern Open outside Cincinnati last month in the leadup to the U.S. Open. This marks the 28-year-old's first semifinal berth at any Grand Slam in singles, though she has won two French Open doubles titles, including earlier this year with countrywoman Kristina Mladenovic.

"I've always played very aggressive," Garcia said in her on-court interview. "The last couple of months I feel antsy again, so I'm able to move and practice the way I want. I just go for my shots, even when I'm stressed or when I don't feel it. The way to improve for me is to move forward and I just try to follow that way."

Gauff, a fan favorite in the U.S., ended her longest run at a U.S. Open. Eighth seed Jessica Pegula is the only remaining American woman alive in the bracket.

--Field Level Media

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