Ons Jabeur, 10th in the WTA ranking, competes this Saturday, May 7, 2022, the final of the Madrid WTA 1000 tournament. A major challenge for the Tunisian, who competes for the sixth final of her career, but hitherto has only a title in his record, obtained in Birmingham in 2021.
Today she faces the American Jessica Pegula (world 14th), who, for her part, will play her fourth final for a single title won in Washington in 2019.
After an exceptional 2021 season in which she managed to reach 7th place in the world, Ons Jabeur has the ambition to maintain herself in the world top 10.
Supported by her sponsors including Tunisie Telecom, she intends to go beyond and reach her dream of becoming a world n ° 1 and especially to win a Grand Chelem title.
A Roland-Garros before size challenge
There are many objectives of Ons Jabeur. For several seasons, the world tenth, already considered the largest Arab tennis player has improved. Classified beyond 200th place (251st) in 2012, the Tunisian joined the Top 100 in 2017, the Top 50 in 2020 and the Top 10 in 2021…
In December 2020, she was still in 31st position in the WTA ranking, but has since stopped raising her level and has become one of the major actresses in world tennis. In case of success in Madrid, the Tunisian will even find her 7th place in the world which she had reached in November 2021.
And despite regularity at the highest level, Ons Jabeur won only one title for four losses in single. It was in Birmingham (WTA 250) last year against Russian Daria Kasatkina (7-5, 6-4). By winning in Madrid, his status would radically change. Above all, it would position itself even more as outsider during the next Roland-Garros.
Upper
Today, she wants to go to the upper level, claiming to have placed even higher the bar of her ambitions and that she will work to win an important title in 2022.
The year 2021 was exceptional, especially after reaching the top of the WTA ranking, but also for its remarkable services on the professional circuit like its coronation at the Birmingham tournament, its quarter-final in Wimbledon, its semi-final at Indian Wells.
But above all she was the circuit player who played the most and won the most matches in a season after playing 67 games for 48 successes and 19 defeats.
Course
Ons Jabeur rose to the final after having beaten the Italian Jasmine Paolini, 46th in two sets (7-6, 6-1) in the 1st round, then the Russian Varvara Gracheva (73rd) in three sets (7-5, 0-6, 6-4) in the 2nd round.
In the round of 16, she eliminated the Swiss Belinda Bencic in three sets (6-2, 3-6, 6-2). And yesterday, she beat the Romanian Simona Halep in two sets (6-3, 6-2) on behalf of the quarterfinals.
As for Jessica Pegula, she eliminated in turn, the Italian Camila Giorgi (31st), the Estonian Kaia Kanepi (55th), Lavadanian Bianca Vanessa Andreescu (111th), the Spanish Sara Sorribes Tormo (47th) and the Swiss Jil Teichmann (35th).
History Jabeur vs pegula
Ons Jabeur has already faced Jessica Pegula four times in the past with two victories for two defeats.
Their first opposition dates back to September 13, 2018 to the 2nd round of the Quebec tournament. The American had won in two sets (7-6, 6-4).
On August 13, 2021, the two players found themselves in the quarterfinals of the Montreal tournament with a victory of Pegula in three sets (1-6, 7-6, 6-0).
On September 30, 2021, Ons Jabeur Bat Jessica Pegula in three sets (1-6, 6-2, 6-3) in the 3rd round of the Chicago tournament.
Their last opposition dates back to February 16 on behalf of the 2nd round of the Dubai tournament. Ons Jabeur won the match in two sets (6-3, 6-1).
Where to follow the match?
The match between Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula will be broadcast on Beinsports Max 4, Movistar+ Ellas and Teledporte from 5.30 p.m. (HT).
