Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur Becomes First African Woman to Reach Major Tennis Final

Ons Jabeur reached her first Grand Slam final by beating Tatjana Maria 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 on Wimbledon center court, a victory that also marks the debut of Arab and African women.

The Tunisian is the first Arab woman to reach a grand final and the first African woman to do so in the Open era.

Third-placed Jabeur will face 2019 Wimbledon champion Simona Halep or Elena Rybakina in Saturday’s final.

In the deciding set, Jabeur broke her 34-year-old German opponent—who was a first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist—twice en route to a 5-0 lead.

This was Maria’s 35th appearance in a major tournament, and the 103rd place finisher had never advanced beyond the third round.

Elena Rybakina defeated 2019 champion Simona Halep 6-3 on center court to score a Wimbledon final against Ons Jabeur.

Both Rybakina, 17th, and Jabeur, 3rd, are rookie Grand Slam finalists.

Rybakina is the first player from Kazakhstan to reach a grand final. Jabeur is the first Arab woman to reach a grand final and the first African woman to do so in the open era.

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Rybakina, 23, is the youngest Wimbledon finalist since 2015, when Garbiñe Muguruza lost to Serena Williams.

Halep, the winner of the 2018 French Open, reached the semi-finals without losing a set, but was broken early in both sets.

The 30-year-old Romanian was unable to defend her Wimbledon title last year—after the 2020 edition was canceled—due to a calf injury.