Sure, some of the little details of Ons Jabeur's victory over 2017 champion Garbiñe Muguruza at Wimbledon are worth recounting, because they were far from mundane.
Her around-the-net-post winner. Her streak of 16 consecutive points, tied for the second-longest run at Wimbledon in more than 40 years. Her 29 break chances (yes, 29). Her crouching down to vomit beneath the Royal Box because of a stomach issue (yes, you read that right, too).
Let's instead follow Jabeur's lead, though, and focus on the big picture. By beating the 11th-seeded Muguruza, a two-time major title winner, by a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 score on Friday, Jabeur became the first Arab woman to reach the fourth round at the All England Club.
This comes two weeks after the 26-year-old from Tunisia became the first Arab to win a WTA title; she earned the trophy at a grass-court tuneup at Birmingham.
"It means a lot. Especially (with) so many Arab people watching me and supporting me. I've received a lot of messages from different people. It's amazing. But I don't want the journey to stop here. I want to continue," said Jabeur, who is seeded 21st.
https://twitter.com/pjohnson_sports/status/1410977582481244161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"I'm doing amazing. I'm getting more and more confident on the court," she continued. "I mean, hopefully whoever is watching, I hope that so many (of the) young generation is watching, and I can inspire them."
Jabeur will try to get to the second Grand Slam quarterfinal of her career by defeating 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek on Monday.
And why not? Jabeur already has eliminated a pair of players who own multiple major titles this week: Muguruza and, in the second round, Venus Williams.
"Honestly, she's just breaking down barriers. The first woman from her country to do anything that she's doing," Williams said about Jabeur. "She's inspiring so many people, including me."
Muguruza saved that match point but Jabeur made no mistake when she secured a second one and fell on her back in celebration getting back up to a standing ovation.
Her victory will do wonders for her goal of encouraging more Arab women, especially in North Africa, to take up the sport and eventually join her on the professional circuit.
It was another landmark performance by Jabeur who only last month became the first Arab woman to win a WTA Tour title, winning on grass at Birmingham.
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from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/wimbledon-ons-jabeur-upsets-garbine-muguruza/80bf2895-436b-4e8c-b7b4-211268282192
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