Ons Jabeur Battles Past Marie Bouzkova in Three-Hour Thriller to Reach US Open Round of 16
In a hard-fought contest on Arthur Ashe Stadium US Open, Ons Jabeur, the fifth seed and last year’s runner-up, secured a thrilling victory against Czech 31st seed Marie Bouzkova. The match lasted nearly three hours and ended with a scoreline of 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. Bouzkova, who was dealing with a thigh injury, faced a determined Jabeur.
Despite facing illness in New York, the 29-year-old Tunisian displayed unwavering determination and resilience. After her win in a grueling two-hour and fifty-six-minute battle, Jabeur expressed her commitment, saying, “Hopefully I’ll continue with this warrior symbol. I love fighting. I trust my body. I know I can go all the way playing three sets, no problem. It’s not fun starting being sick. I feel like this tournament is testing me and showing me that I have a lot of strength, that I can go really far.”
Jabeur’s next challenge at Flushing Meadows, as she pursues her first major title, will be against Chinese 23rd seed Zheng Qinwen.
In the night session on Louis Armstrong Stadium, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova had a swift victory, taking only 56 minutes to defeat Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova with a score of 6-2, 6-1. Their match began at approximately 23:30 local time.
Sabalenka and Pegula Maintain Their Momentum at the US Open
Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant form with a convincing 6-1 6-1 victory over France’s Clara Burel. Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, has made strong runs to the semi-finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon.
She is now on a quest to surpass defending champion Iga Swiatek’s results at the US Open to claim the world number one ranking. Sabalenka has cruised through her opening-round matches without dropping a set and is set to face 13th seed Daria Kasatkina in her next match.
Meanwhile, third seed Jessica Pegula held off a comeback from Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, keeping her hopes alive to become the first American singles champion since Sloane Stephens in 2017.
Pegula, who has reached the quarter-finals of six Grand Slam tournaments but hasn’t advanced beyond that stage, will take on compatriot Madison Keys in the fourth round after Keys staged a comeback to win 5-7 6-2 6-2 against Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova.
Elina Svitolina Announces Year-End Break from Professional Tennis
Elina Svitolina, the 27-year-old Ukrainian tennis star, has experienced a remarkable comeback year, exceeding her own expectations. After returning to Grand Slam tennis following the birth of her daughter Skai in October, Svitolina reached the quarter-finals at the French Open and went a step further at Wimbledon by reaching the last four. Although her performance in New York didn’t match her Wimbledon success, her resurgence has been impressive.
When she returned to the court in March, Svitolina had set her sights on rejoining the top 100 rankings, a milestone she reached much faster than anticipated. Reflecting on her achievements, Svitolina expressed her satisfaction with her solid performances at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, acknowledging that she didn’t expect to reach such a high level.
Despite her disappointment over the early exit at Flushing Meadows, Svitolina sees it as an opportunity to take a break and spend quality time with her daughter, whom she hasn’t seen for an extended period due to her tennis commitments. She plans to use this time to recover physically and prepare for her return to the court. The duration of her hiatus will be determined after consulting with medical professionals.
Aryna Sabalenka Finds Inspiration in Caroline Wozniacki’s Tennis Journey
Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one, continues her remarkable journey at the US Open against American sixth seed Gauff on Sunday (not before 19:00 BST), serving as an inspiration to 25-year-old Sabalenka.
Wozniacki, aged 33, retired in 2020, had two children, and made a triumphant return to the court in August, reaching the second week at Flushing Meadows in her first Grand Slam appearance since her comeback.
Sabalenka expressed her admiration, stating, “I think it’s amazing.” She continued, “She was out for three-and-a-half years, having two kids, and came back and [is] still playing her best. I feel like if you have this level, you will never lose it. It gives so much belief to me if one day I would like to go for a baby, I’ll have some chances to come back. She’s just such an inspiration, and I’m really happy for her.”
American 17th seed Keys echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how Wozniacki has “bounced back really quickly” and describing her return as “incredibly impressive.”
