WTA
New York
After losing the recent Wimbledon final, Ons Jabeur understandably had a difficult time gathering her emotions. On Tuesday at the US Open, it was clearly a physical struggle.
Despite an obviously depleted energy level, Jabeur somehow managed to finish only her third completed match in the past six weeks, defeating Camila Osorio 7-5, 7-6(4). At times, it was difficult to watch as Jabeur repeatedly stood hunched over, hand on knee, racquet supporting her ailing body.
"Yeah, it wasn’t an easy match,” Jabeur said in her on-court interview.
"She plays unbelievable. I’m not playing my best today. I know at some point I didn’t have the best attitude on the court.
"I’m glad that I got the win. Especially that I showed how I could push on the court.”
The match ran 2 hours and 2 minutes – but felt a lot longer. The two players embraced at net for more than 15 seconds.
Asked about the conversation at net, Jabeur said, "She asked me if I’m feeling OK, and I said, `Not really.’ She said I was such a warrior. I apologized for bringing the doctor on the court.
"But she took it really well and congratulated me on the win.”
It was a memorable display of courage, reminiscent of Pete Sampras’s heroic victory over Alex Corretja in the 1996 US Open quarter-finals. Sampras, physically ill on court, won a fifth-set tiebreaker that, after he went on to win the title, became the stuff of legend.
Next up for Jabeur: Czech Republic teenager Linda Noskova, a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Madison Brengle, on Thursday.