In one of the first pre-quarters of the Wimbledon Championships 2021, fans witnessed an amazing clash between Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur. In an epic clash, it was Jabeur who showed some phenomenal character throughout the match and thus, won the match in three sets. The final scoreline of the match was 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.
Intriguingly, this is the first time when Ons Jabeur has reached the quarter-finals at the Wimbledon Championships. She is also the first Arab or North African- man or woman- to reach Wimbledon’s quarter-finals since Egypt’s Ismail El Shafei in 1974.
Ons Jabeur becomes the first Arab or North African – man or woman – to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals since Egypt's Ismail El Shafei in 1974.
Takes out No.7 seed Iga Swiatek 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to reach the last-eight stage at the Championships.
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) July 5, 2021
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Set-1: Ons Jabeur fought hard but Iga Swiatek was simply better
Ons Jabeur began the set on a really high note as she broke in the very first game. She won the following game too and established a 2-0 lead over Iga Swiatek. However, the Polish player broke back in the sixth game to equalize the scoreline at 3-3.
https://twitter.com/tennis_gifs/status/1412002023495643140
Jabeur again played some beautiful forehands and thus, broke again in the seventh game. She won the service game after that and was now leading 5-3. However, World No.9 Swiatek didn’t give up, broke in the tenth game again, and equalized the scoreline once again at 5-5.
Could not resist the siren call of the end of the Swiatek-Jabeur first set.
Tuned in to see Swiatek hit a winner around the net post, do the literal splits & smack a backhand winner down the line to break for 7-5. pic.twitter.com/VeftRC80GZ
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) July 5, 2021
She carried forward her momentum, won the subsequent game, and then broke for the third time to win the set 7-5. Thus, she was now one step close to booking her place in the quarters of the Wimbledon Championships 2021.
Set-2: Ons Jabeur strikes back
Jabeur once again got off to a great start and was leading 3-0 after the first two games of the second set. Interestingly, she broke two times during this period.
Great great tennis between Jabeur and Swiatek
(GIF @tennis_gifs) https://t.co/tZPPZdCTX4
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) July 5, 2021
Jabeur saved three break-points in the fourth game and was now close to bagel the Polish player. However, Swiatek struck back and managed to win a game to reduce the margin to 4-1.
Doing the splits!
Swiatek 7-5, 1-6 Jabeur
Sabalenka 6-3, 4-6 Rybakina
Korda 6-3, 4-6 Khachanov
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) July 5, 2021
Jabeur was not ready to give this one away. She played beautifully, broke again, and thus won the set 6-1.
Set-3: Final nail in the coffin of Iga Swiatek
Jabeur yet again won the first game of the match without losing a single point. However, Swiatek served really well in the following game to equalize the scoreline at 1-1.
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Heading to a decider…@Ons_Jabeur takes the second set 6-1 against @iga_swiatek – who wins from here?#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/lSJ8rLuBns
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2021
Jabeur broke first in this set as well and was now leading 3-1. She continued her dream run, won her service game, and was now just two games away from the quarters.
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Interestingly, she broke yet again and took her lead to 5-1. Ons Jabeur didn’t take much time after this, won the next game easily, and therefore, sealed her spot in the quarter-finals.