The Tunisian Ons Jabeur, seventh in the world tennis rankings, this Wednesday overcame a match of many errors on both sides and won 6-4, 6-3 against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova at the WTA Finals in Cancun.
Jabeur made 20 unforced errors in the first set, but came out better against an opponent with six double faults, erratic at key moments.
The Tunisian started with a break. Vondrousova made it 2-2 by breaking the African’s serve in the fourth game, with the two going down a winding path, risking losing the set. In the fifth game Jabeur took a 3-2 lead and improved his serve to win 6-4.
In the second set, with a lot of wind, the story was similar, Jabeur broke in the first game and Vondrousova in the fourth, but then both failed on their serve until 3-3 the Czech failed on her serve and Jabeur he took an advantage which he never lost.
The Czech made 24 unforced errors, 11 of which were double faults, and missed his chances to break his opponent, leaving him out of the championship.
“I’m happy with the victory, but lately I haven’t been like that,” said the Tunisian who admitted suffering from something not related to tennis: the wars on the planet.
The prize donation
Jabeur, a two-time Wimbledon finalist in 2022 and 2023, has announced that she will donate part of her winnings from the WTA Masters “to help the Palestinians”, amid the war between Israel and Hamas .
“It’s very difficult to see children and babies dying every day. It breaks my heart. That’s why I decided to donate part of the prize money to help the Palestinians,” he said.
“I can’t be happy with this victory with what’s happening. I’m sorry, we’re here for tennis, but it’s very frustrating… It’s not a political message, just humanity, I want peace in the world, that’s everyone.”
Polish is relatively new Iga Swiateksecond in the world rankings, defeated the American Coco Gauff 6-0 and 7-5 and confirmed his good moment in sporting form, with eight consecutive wins on the tour.
This Friday, in the closing group, Iga Swiatek will face Ons Jabeur and Gauff will face Czech Vondrousova, sixth.
The WTA Finals will take place in Cancun on a hard court with a prize pool of nine million dollars.
This Thursday they will continue with the closing of the Bacalar group, where the American Jessica Pegula, who reached the semifinals, will face the Greek María Sakkari, and the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, who is the first in the world list, will face in Kazakh Elena. Rybakina, in a duel whose winner will access part of the best four.
Source: La Verdad
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