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*Jabeur 6-2 3-6 3-0 Maria (*denotes server) Jabeur talked to himself because this is much more similar. Her forehand goes and though she taps what should have been a simple delayed volley straight to Maria who serves it well, a big serve then seals her consolidation to 15.
Jabeur 6-2 3-6 2-0 *Maria (*denotes server) Jabeur makes it 15-30, but again a dipping slice does enough to rip her off her forehand as she advances to midcourt. That she took it is a good sign, though, because that’s what she’s supposed to do, and when Maria hits a squash shot, she has a break point… and there it is! Maria advances, giving Jabeur too much time to pick a pass, and she fires a topspin cross court forehand to go ahead.
*Jabeur 6-2 3-6 1-0 Maria (*denotes server) Jabeur can play much better even than the first set she dominated – if she plays her game she will win but she was a hold from the very begining. It’s more like that though, a love hold from a bouncy backhand cross court winner that puts an exclamation point on the game.
Jabeur 6-2 3-6 *Maria (*denotes server) YES TATIANA MARIA! She’s up 40-0 in seconds, then Jabeur finds her missing forehand to hit a winner that sniffs her lightly. But then another one of those backhand slices that barely moves off the racket, barely moves off the racket, and we have a decider!
We are at the level! Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Updated at 14.58 BST
*Jabeur 6-2 3-5 Maria (*denotes server) Another great touch shot when turned the wrong way, this time from around the hip, makes it 30-0 to Jabeur, but the double brings Maria into the game and the winner makes it 30 -all. Two points for the set! Jabeur then lands a forehand trying to force the tempo and she only needs one! But Jabeur finds the first serve he needs, confidently making deuce from there; she can’t close immediately, a hopeful drop burning one of her game points, but it’s just as well because the way she takes a drop, then glides to slide a delicate backhand slant across the face of the net is sensational . Maria will have to serve for that…
Jabeur 6-2 2-5 *Maria (*denotes server) Maria looks a lot more confident now; she is having fun. At 30-15, Jabeur creates an angle to send a spinning forehand crosscourt to bounce just down the sideline, but Maria stays steady, excellent defense, providing no easy topside clearance for 40-30, after which she closes out. She is one game away from the decider.
*Jabeur 6-2 2-4 Maria (*denotes server) Better from Jabeur, powering up a forehand to make it 40-0 before faking one to tickle the most delicate drop just over the net with Maria blocked .
Updated at 14.49 BST
Jabeur 6-2 1-4 *Maria (*denotes server) You have a feeling that Jabeur will step up in this game, but a weak share from Maria means she doesn’t need to get 15-all. Maria, however, measures her share much better now, making it difficult for Jabeur to unleash her power, perhaps the main difference between the players. At 40-15 we see that she has committed 10 unforced errors so far in this set, twice as many as her opponent … but at 40-30 we see an incredible shot, Maria plays a really good slice to the forehand corner and Jaber somehow squash shot behind the shoulder and around her body, crosscourt for the winner. This is rrr ridiculous behavior and after Maria doubles her lead she falls behind in the next rally, the writing is clearly on the wall. But a perfect lob wins her advantage, she presses it and it’s much more of a contest.
*Jabeur 6-2 1-3 Maria (*denotes server) Terrible slice from Jabeur at 15-all – she’s on the baseline and the shot barely hits the service box – Maria delivers brilliantly … and despite a big serve makes 30 -all, another error and she faces her first break point of the match. That’s all Maria needs, a well-placed drop that stays too low to be returned! Are we having a ball game?
Jabeur 6-2 1-2 *Maria (*denotes server) Another forehand error from Maria puts Jabeur at 0-15, but after building an opportunity to hit a winner, she rushes to the net and slams a forehand into the trams. No matter: another fault and another double means two more break points, the first saved with a telling forehand-volley combination… then a piece falling means Jabeur can’t get under her forehand as she would wanted, and the ball falls long. Maria is game, she really is, and she’s competing by advantage to secure control – but how can she make an impression when she’s on the receiving end?
Elena Rybakina looks a little overmatched. Photo: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images
Updated at 14.47 BST
*Jabeur 6-2 1-1 Maria (*denotes server) Another ace makes it 30-15 for Jabeur and although Maria can’t do anything about it, she might want to unload the bag on every second serve she faces. Meanwhile, Jabeur drives a backhand down the line, then misses one, which brings us to deuce, but Maria lands a forehand and shows her frustration because it was a chance for a winner. In this case, seconds later, the game was over.
Jabeur 6-2 0-1 *Maria (*denotes server) A second double of the match puts Jabeur at 15-all, but a deft and final volley, then a long return, makes it 40-15. Maria has bounced back from a three-game losing streak here – though not against players of Jabert’s caliber – and is up to 15.
*Jabeur 6-2 Maria (*denotes server) The first ace of the match knocks Jabeur off, another right after and you’re worried about Maria now. The set is duly wedged for love and it’s all rather one-sided.
Ons Jabeur throws an ace. Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Updated at 14.17 BST
Jabeur 5-2 Maria* (*denotes server) They make us switch channels, during which we, or at least I, miss what was obviously a wonderful duel on the net – this time won by Mari but featuring Jabeur , playing a shot facing the wrong direction. That makes it 30-0, but we’re soon at 30-all and a wild forehand concedes another break point. This time she chips and attacks, but doesn’t have enough speed, depth or spin on the approach, so the ball sits up and Jabeur duly pokes the pass through her area. She will now serve for the first set.
*Jabeur 4-2 Maria (*denotes server) Nerves aside, I can see why she’s playing it a little safe – Maria doesn’t have the weapons to hurt her, so provided she doesn’t get stupid, how is she going to find a way to lose? – but by playing conservatively, Maria is encouraged to attack, and if she can get a run, she can win. Anyway, Jabeur hits the ball in this hold, even though it’s only up to 30, and she starts to work out how to play Maria’s piece.
Jabeur 3-2 *Maria (*denotes server) Maria won a few net exchanges in the early gate but generally would do well to stay away from them – she loses one which gives Jabeur 15-30 but more than that, never she didn’t look likely to take it as she lacked the skill, power and ingenuity of her opponent. We end at deuce, but with Maria in the lead, Jaber’s return puts a forehand winner into the corner, then she plays two aerial pieces, the first of which is punished, and the second … ends up in the net. Again Deuce and Jabeur used too many seemingly safe options, taking the pace off the ball when a more positive play would probably have made it 5-0. But instead she gives Maria another chance to finish and we’re still on a break.
*Jabeur 3-1 Maria (*denotes server) Switching sides we see Nadal’s VT get a hit which is good news – hope to see it tomorrow. Back in the center, Jabeur lands a forehand, then another, and even if she gets through this match, she won’t get away with such a start in the final. She didn’t look nervous when she came out, but she doesn’t usually play like that… but she usually plays this that, a big fail, doing all 30. She doesn’t have hands, she has HANDS and a beautiful close-up sweep over the net, like her head on a racket changes the angle at the last second, makes 40-30. But then a rounded backhand spread wide – Maria left it confidently but it was close – brings us to deuce, all the points against serve coming from unforced errors, before Jaber makes it easy to consolidate, clinch point with a clever backhand stroked down the line.
Tatyana Maria is an early collapse. Photo: Neil Hall/EPA
Updated at 14.03 BST
Jabeur 2-1 *Maria (*denotes server) At 15-all, Maria lands a serve on the line, looks up at her box, which advises her not to challenge, then sends a slow second shot. Jabeur, however, is now handling the return and bets too much on it, giving away 30-15, but redeems himself with two much better points, one sealed with a cover drop and the other a big forehand followed by an overhead. Another break point, her fourth in two games, comes and goes, but a double gives her an extra opportunity. This time, Maria threw a slice, and on the fifth time she asked, Jaber interrupted and looked too good, even though he hadn’t settled in yet.
*Jabeur 1-1 Maria (*denotes server) Jabeur takes a deep breath – a smart move – then races to 4-0 before two forehand errors bring Maria into the game. No matter: she dominates the next rally from behind, her weight and angle of attack are too good, and she’s on the board.
Jabeur 0-1 *Maria (*denotes server) Jabeur gets a break point, but after winning the chance to play a telling volley, she lands a backhand slice. Maria then reaches an advantage and can’t close, a tame second serve handing the initiative to Jabert and a forehand winner earns a second break chance. But Maria is solid at the net, clearing a forehand, then again well on the volley as Jaber hits a forehand return. She really had to open her shoulders there – she’d been a bit hesitant up until now – but a clever piece soon won her third…
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