Ons Jabeur of Tunisia and Caroline Garcia of France have become the first pair in the women’s bracket to reach the US Open semifinals.
Jabeur, the fifth seed in the tournament, made history when she overcame Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4 7-6(4) to become the first Arab woman to make the final four at the New York hardcourt major.
Tomljanovic, who eliminated Serena Williams, failed to deal with the tenacity of the Wimbledon finalist in the first set before showing more resolve in the second but ultimately falling short once again.
Jabeur roped in the first set with 15 winners before her frustrations mounted in the second as her serve went missing with the Australian converting three of four break point opportunities.
Tomljanovic failed to capitalise and was broken herself before the Tunisian sealed the win in the tiebreak.
Ons Jabeur will now face Caroline Garcia for a spot in the Final of the US Open on the line.
Garcia, who seems to be going through a career renaissance, eliminated hometown favourite Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semifinal.
She wasted little time in stealing the march against the young American, storming to a 4-0 lead with punishing forehands to take a one-set lead. The trend continued in the second with Garcia breaking Gauff in the first game before serving her way out of a breakpoint hole while up 3-1.
Gauff then found the net on matchpoint taking Garcia to her first majors semifinal. She is yet to drop a set at the year’s final Grand Slam and presents a significant test to Jabeur in the semifinal.
