(Tennis news) Ons Jabeur became the first African player to win a WTA Masters 1000 event after defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5 0-6 6-2 in a roller coaster clash that lasted just under two hours. The Tunisian was forced to survive a set point in a taxing opening set and recovered from a second-set bagel to secure the biggest victory of her career. Her American opponent established an early 4-1 lead by fending off a series of break points but Jabeur recovered valiantly and claimed six of the final seven games.
The Tunisian tennis player survived a set point at 5-4 down by unleashing her brilliant backhand and broke to love subsequently, closing the opening set in under an hour. However, Pegula fought back and won the second set emphatically in just under 26 minutes, leading to a decider. The American saved three break points in the opening service game, resulting in a string of unforced errors from her opponent. The game continued to shift in either direction as the pair exchanged breaks but Jabeur was the first to convert a precious hold, coming through a decisive seventh game to claim a double-break and lead 5-2. The result meant that Jabeur will rise to World Number 7 ranking next week after her Madrid Open win.
Speaking after the match, the Tunisian tennis player said “I honestly still can't believe it. I went through a roller coaster of emotions during the past few days, just after the semifinal. I was really stressed trying to breathe like a pregnant woman. She had great momentum in the second set. I cannot say much, but at the same time, I wasn't being patient enough with her shots. I could have stayed longer with the rallies or tried to put the ball in, but I know she was playing really great. Afterwards, I was like, 'No matter what you do, just don't lose your serve.’ There were tricky moments there. I felt like even my body language was much better the third set. I was trying to go more forward and be able to back her shots, because she was really playing good.”
Jabeaur’s opponent Jessica Pegula said “I thought it was really high level. I thought we had some really great points. I'm happy. I wish I could have closed off the first set, not just on the set point but I mean like being up 4-1, I wish I could have maybe been more aggressive and kind of taken the lead there, but I was happy with how I bounced back in the second and thought I played really well. We were breaking a lot. It felt like whoever could kind of hold on to their serve and consolidate the break was going to win the match, especially in that third set.”
Also read: Carlos Alcaraz defeats Alexander Zverev to win the Madrid Open title
