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*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.
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 needed to open her shoulders there – she’d been a bit hesitant so far – but a clever piece soon won her a third bite, Maria responding with a big, flat serve wide to the backhand. And from there she closes for 1-0, but there are signs that once Jabeur settles, she will be in big trouble.
Okay, here we go! Mary to serve…
Jabeur made the quarters in the final term, losing 4 and 3 to Sabalenka. However, she is much better than she showed that day, and has improved since then as well.
Our players are ready … and here they are! Jaber closes his eyes, lifts his nose in the air, and embraces the moment. I say this a lot, but how do you even accept things like this? I have no idea.
I can’t wait to see what Ons Jabeur does for a big semi. I love her combination of strength, spin and cunning – she reminds me of it in a way. of Marcos Baghdatis – and if she finds her best level, she will be hard to beat. If she does show up, I don’t see Tatiana Maria having much going for her.
Ons Jaber. Photo: Xinhua/Shutterstock
Updated at 13.29 BST
We see Nadal arriving, perhaps to get a scan on his bulging stomach. If he can’t play tomorrow, that would be a huge shame and makes me wonder if the rules should call for Taylor Fritz to take his place. I know, I know, how can you win a tournament you’ve been knocked out of, but a semi-final bye sounds about as wrong, and it also robs us of a valuable last-four run. I don’t know, but that’s a thought.
Interesting, simple and wise advice from Billie Jean-King on how to prepare for big matches: take everything really slow.
ELEMENTARY: Elena Rybakina thinks she will have to serve well today. More news as I get it.
Serving is very important in tennis. Photo: Xinhua/Shutterstock
Updated at 13.16 BST
Preamble
In the 22 women’s Grand Slam finals since 2017, there have been 25 different finalists and 13 different champions; by comparison, the first tennis I remember watching was in 1984, and in the 22 majors since then there have been seven finalists and five winners. This change is absolutely absurd, in good ways – lots of great players, little idea of what’s going to happen – and in bad ways – the best players don’t meet often enough, now it’s hard to know who the best players are. But what is undeniable is that women’s tennis is the least predictable sport in the world.
So, although it seems easy to predict what will happen today – wins for Ons Jabeur and Simon Halep – the titles won by Emma Raducanu, Barbora Krejcikova and Bianca Andreescu, along with the finals reached by Daniel Collins, Jennifer Brady and Marketa Vondrous, tell us we don’t know anything. Making the final is about playing well on the day, not being good overall.
Neither Jaber nor Halep are impregnable. The former is under colossal pressure as the highest-ranked player to leave and the first Arab woman to reach this stage of a major. And while she really enjoys the show, it won’t take long for the pressure to get to her – especially against an opponent who is also a close friend and for whom today represents the chance of a lifetime.
Halep, meanwhile, is in superb form, but falls short against the next generation. Amanda Anisimova only played properly for five minutes yesterday, more than enough time to rattle the 2019 champion, while Elena Rybakina, now settled into a later stage in her life, is just as strong, if not more so , and is expected to do better than her against Ajla Tomljanovic.
That will be good.
Launch: 1.30pm BST
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