Ons Jabeur: History-making Tunisian into first Wimbledon final after beating close friend Tatjana Maria

Ons Jabeur wrote another historic chapter in her trailblazing career after battling into the Wimbledon final by beating Germany's Tatjana Maria in three sets. With both players into their first Grand Slam semi-finals, this match-up between two close friends meant only one could continue their remarkable Wimbledon story to Saturday. Ad/> Jabeur was hoping to become the first Arab and North African to reach a major final, while 34-year-old Maria was aiming to follow Evonne Goolagong Cawley in becoming just the second mother to win Wimbledon in the Open era.

WimbledonExclusive: ‘I am very close to my best tennis ever’ — Halep7 HOURS AGO And ultimately, it was to be Jabeur’s day, the Tunisian No. 3 seed winning through 6-2 3-6 6-1 to book a final against either 2019 winner Simona Halep or No. 17 seed Elena Rybakina – with that semi-final up next on Centre Court.

“I really don’t know what to say. It’s a dream come true. I’m really happy that [the sacrifice] is paying off.

I [will] continue for one more match!" she said on-court. “I’m a proud Tunisian woman standing here today. I know in Tunisia they’re going crazy right now.

Hopefully, I [can] inspire as many as I can… not just Tunisian, Arab, African players… I just love the game and I want to share this experience with them.” Nadal has 7mm abdominal tear ahead of Kyrgios clash — reports Wimbledon semi-final live — Halep v Rybakina Exclusive: ‘I am very close to my best tennis ever’ — Halep Jabeur and Maria are great friends off court. Maria had called her “Aunt Ons” in a recent interview, while Jabeur said her opponent was also her «BBQ buddy», but that had to be put to one side going into the pair’s first semi-final on the Grand Slam stage. /> And come the match, it was