The Kevin Costner-inspired pep talk that helped Ajla Tomljanovic topple Serena Williams - US Open diary

03.09.2022 - 13:33 eurosport.com

Be like Kevin Costner Of all the things Ajla Tomljanovic expected her father Ratko to tell her before she stepped on Arthur Ashe stadium for her third-round match against Serena Williams, ‘Be like Kevin Costner’, was probably not one of them.

Ad Tomljanovic put in an impressive and clutch performance to defeat Williams 7-5 6-7(4) 6-1 in what seems certain to be the American legend’s final singles match of her career.

US Open‘We are going to remember Serena the person forever’ – Wilander pays tribute to legendAN HOUR AGO The 29-year-old Zagreb-born Australian showed great poise in brutal circumstances, as she took on Williams along with the 24,000-strong crowd that was firmly behind her.

Tomljanovic was facing the 23-time Grand Slam champion for the first time and was also making her Arthur Ashe stadium debut, in a primetime night session no less.

Sporting rowing handball Serena Williams Usa Australia county Arthur county Ashe Zagreb

Ons Jabeur seemed to be well on her way to a first US Open semi-final when she faced some complications and became increasingly frustrated, tossing her racket around. Jabeur had controlled her quarter-final match against Ajla Tomljanovic for much of its duration, establishing a set and a break lead, but a few loose errors arrested her momentum. From 3-2 in the second set, she trailed 5-3, a deciding set closing in.

Jabeur defeats Tomljanovic to reach US Open semifinals

NEW YORK: Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur claimed another piece of tennis history after becoming the first African woman to reach the semifinals of the US Open on Tuesday with a straight sets victory over Ajla Tomljanovic. Jabeur, who was also the first woman from Africa to win a place in the Wimbledon final in July, moved into the last four with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) win on the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court. The 28-year-old will face either 12th seed Coco Gauff or in-form French 17th seed Caroline Garcia in Thursday’s semifinals.

Jabeur gets the edge over Tomljanovic to reach US Open semis

NEW YORK : Tunisian fifth seed Ons Jabeur overcame her own frustrations to reach the U.S. Open semi-final by beating Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4 7-6(4) on Tuesday, becoming the first Arab woman to make the final four at the New York hard court major.

Ons Jabeur and Ajla Tomljanovic book US Open quarter-final showdown after winning fourth-round matches

There was a parity to Ons Jabeur and Ajla Tomljanovic’s displays at the US Open at Sunday night, and now the pair will face off for a place in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows. Both Jabeur and Tomljanovic won first-set tie-breaks before enjoying more comfortable second sets in their respective fourth-round victories. Ad Jabeur, the first African to reach the last eight in New York since South Africa’s Amanda Coetzer in 1998, beat No.