Jabeur ends Garcia’s run to book her spot in second straight Grand Slam final

The Tunisian made yet more history for her country, Africa and Arab tennis as she set up a US Open final against world No 1 Iga Swiatek

Ons Jabeur, US Open 2022 | © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Ricky Dimon

September 9, 2022

Fresh off a Wimbledon runner-up performance, Ons Jabeur finds herself in another Grand Slam final just two months later. And based on her level of play on Thursday night, the world No 5 just might be ready to take the next step.

Jabeur could do no wrong throughout a 6-1, 6-3 drubbing of a previously red hot Caroline Garcia in the first US Open semi-final. The 28-year-old needed only one hour and six minutes to advance — a much different story in Arthur Ashe Stadium from the previous night’s five-hour and 15-minute marathon between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Take it in, @Ons_Jabeur!#USOpen pic.twitter.com/bIa71zuAaG
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2022

JABEUR NOW 7-0 LIFETIME AGAINST GARCIA

Garcia was coming off the biggest title of her career in Cincinnati and did not drop a single set through her first five matches at Flushing Meadows. However, Jabeur was dominating the head-to-head series 6-0 heading into Thursday. The Tunisian was 4-0 against Garcia in juniors and 2-0 on the pro tour.

Something had to give in this one, and Jabeur’s head-to-head dominance proved to be more important than Garcia’s current form. The Frenchwoman had no answer for her opponent’s all-court game and variety of shot-making. Jabeur almost doubled Garcia’s winners (21 to 12) and committed far fewer unforced errors (15 to 23). Whereas Jabeur converted all four of her break-point opportunities, Garcia did not generate a single break chance.

JABEUR EQUALS WIMBLEDON PERFORMANCE

Jabeur now has a chance to go one step farther than she did at Wimbledon and capture her first Grand Slam title. She fell one set short in London, where she lost to Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

She’s the first Tunisian, African and Arab woman to make the US Open final and though she’s used to the pressure of playing for more than herself, she admits that at Wimbledon, she felt it.

“After Wimbledon there was a lot of pressure on me,” Jabeur commented. “I’m just relieved I could back up my results and I’m really happy to be in the final here.”

The fifth seed awaits top seed Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s championship match after the Pole beat Aryna Sabalenka in the first semi-final.