Decidedly, Roland-Garros continues to refuse Ons Jabeur. The Tunisian clay specialist lost her quarter-final on Wednesday (June 7th) to Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia. An umpteenth counter-performance Porte d'Auteuil for the world number 7.
In a Philippe-Chatrier stadium with sadly empty bays, Ons Jabeur had started well, taking the ascendancy from the start: she won on her service game and then made the break on her opponent (2-0).
Then begins a strange first set where the waitresses have a hard time imposing themselves on their games. Facing the Brazilian who is playing her first quarter-final in Grand Slam, the Tunisian makes the experience speak and takes three consecutive service games. Enough to win the first set despite two breaks conceded (6-3).
Beatriz Hadda Maia returns to the court determined to turn the tide. She starts with an almost perfect game, finding on this occasion her formidable serve. It ends up concluding despite conceding two points (1-0). The world number 7 answers him on his game, including one of his formidable cushions.
The Brazilian left-hander and the Tunisian right-hander surrender blow after blow on their serves. The games pass without even one of the two players in the Top 20 having a break ball (5-5).
Ons Jabeur cracks in the last moments
Ons Jabeur seems to make the difference at the best of times and offers himself two break balls. Beatriz Haddad Mia manages to erase them and then win the bet. Everything has to be redone.
Starting with her service game where the Tunisian scares herself by offering a set ball to her opponent. She erased it despite a second serve and then managed to conclude despite 5 consecutive ties.
Difficulties far from anecdotal if we believe the scenario of the decisive game. Beatriz Haddad Mia won the set hands down, despite a burst from Ons Jabeur in the final points. The world number 14 takes the number 7 set in a third set of all dangers while she is the undisputed specialist: in her eighth final against Sorribes Torno, she played the longest match of the WTA season (3:51) while she already held the previous record (3:41).
The Tunisian woman is affected. She conceded two breaks in the third set and took a shutout on her opponent's serve. If Ons Jabeur offers himself a burst by taking the fourth game, Beatriz Haddad Maia quickly calms the desires of remontada of his opponent (4-1) and Ons Jabeur misses an unmissable break ball, throwing his racket to the ground in spite. The end is almost a formality.
Under the cheers of the public, Beatriz Haddad Maia won the first Grand Slam semi-final of her career. The first also for a woman from her country since Maria Bueno at the 1968 US Open. Ons Jabeur, on the other hand, will still have to wait to realize her dream of becoming the first Arab woman to win a Major.
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