One in quick succession, the other after a feat of strength: the tennis players Ons Jabeur and Iga Swiątek have at the US Open in new York reached the final in very different ways.
While the Tunisian Wimbledon finalist Jabeur in her surprisingly clear semi-final victory against the French Caroline Garcia was able to save energy in just 66 minutes, the world number one had to Świątek then fight hard for the title dream.
In the end, however, the Pole won 3: 6, 6: 1, 6: 4 against Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus on Friday night (September 9th, 2022) and made it into the league for the third time Grand Slam-final one. There she meets on Saturday in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Jabeur. “It’s always tough against her. I’m sure it will be a very physical game. She has good shots, is very solid from the baseline.”said Świątek after her 56th win this year: “I have to pay attention.”
break a rescue
Against Sabalenka was the twofold French Open-Winner started weak – the toilet break after the lost first set was the rescue. “I remember when I used to cry in the toilet when I was losing. This time I thought about what I can change.”revealed the 21-year-old.
“It feels insanely good”
Had two and a half hours earlier Jabeur solved the final ticket in a 6:1, 6:3 win against Garcia the 28-year-old was hardly challenged. Now, like two months ago, she is playing in Wimbledon in the final for their first Grand Slam-Title. She lost the final in London to Jelena Rybakina.
“It feels insanely good. After Wimbledon I was under a lot of pressure, I’m very relieved”said Jabeur on that place. At the subsequent press conference, the fifth in the world rankings revealed that she could enjoy this final a lot more. “It feels more real”said Jabeur, “in Wimbledon I was kind of living a dream and I couldn’t believe it”.
Jabeur is the first African player to play in the professional era US Open got into the final. For the disappointing Garcia ended a 13-game winning streak in the biggest game of her career to date.
Minute of silence for the Queen
Before the first serve was im Arthur Ashe Stadium a minute’s silence in honor of the late British Queen Elizabeth II. held.