JAKARTA - Tunisian Muslim tennis player, Ons Jabeur, has listed his name in the Wimbledon history book. She became the first African-Arabic player to reach the Wimbledon final.
The ticket to the final was won after defeating Tajtana Maria, Thursday, July 7th. The victory was greeted by Jabeur coach, Issam Jellali, along with 15,000 cheering spectators.
Jabeur just smiled as he ended Maria's incredible run with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win.
Ahead of the match, Jabeur vowed "a hug at the end would be awesome" and he wasn't wrong. The two players held on to each other at the net for a long time, whispering into each other's ears.
With cheers still ringing around Center Court, Jabeur pulled Maria to the side of the court and joined in the applause to salute the 34-year-old who became the first time a mother-of-two in a Wimbledon semi-final since Margaret Court in 1975.
"I don't know what to say. It's a dream come true from years of hard work and sacrifice. I'm glad it paid off and I'm going to move on for one more match," Jabeur said, quoted by Reuters from Reuters.
"It's harder running to get the ball. He has to make me a barbecue now for all the runs I do on the court!"
"I wanted to share a moment with her at the end because she was an inspiration to many people including me, coming back after having two babies, I couldn't believe how she did it. Physically Tatjana is a beast, she doesn't give up," she added.
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Before the players took to the court, all-time great Billie Jean King said Jabeur was using tennis as a platform to help Tunisia, help Africa and help the Arab people.
The Tunisian did just that when she beat Maria for the first time in a major tour-level match.
"I am a proud Tunisian woman standing here today. I know in Tunisia they are going crazy now," said the third seed, who until this week had not made it past the last eight at a major tournament.
"I'm just trying to inspire as much as I can. I want to see more Arab and African players on tour, I love this game and I want to share my experience with them."
"I saw some of the juniors playing there and I hope to see them here on Center Court one day."
While 27-year-old Jabeur strives to inspire, Maria wants to show her two daughters it's never too late to chase a dream.
The two watched as the mother was forced to save three break points in the opening game. However, the German ranked 103rd was unable to extend the resistance.
She lost serve in the third and seventh games before Jabeur sealed the opening set when Maria's backhand bounced.
Even so, Maria refuses to give victory easily to an opponent she calls "family". She broke to take a 3-1 lead in the second set and held on to the lead to equalize.
However, Jabeur finally overcame his opponent in the third set and bagged the most important point of his career to date when Maria's forehand hit the net.
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