Ons Jabeur joins three former WTA world number ones in reaching final of Madrid & Rome in same year
Madrid Open champion Ons Jabeur has backed up her maiden WTA 1000 title by reaching her second ever final at that level.
She saved a match point to defeat world number 23 Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 to book a final against world number one and defending Italian Open champion Iga Swiatek.
In doing so, Jabeur matches the achievement of three former WTA number ones by making it to the final of both Madrid and Rome in the same season.
The Tunisian had already become the seventh woman to reach the semi-finals of both, following in the footsteps of Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Sara Errani, Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep and Kiki Bertens.
Only Halep, Serena and Safina reached the final of both in the same season, in 2017, 2013 and 2009 respectively.
Moreover, Serena and Safina won both titles during those runs, an achievement Jabeur could also match should she down Swiatek in the final.
However, the level displayed by Jabeur and Swiatek in Rome so far have been totally different.
With her SIGNATURE drop to win it ✍️
?? @Ons_Jabeur holds off Kasatkina to reach a second straight WTA 1000 final!
Faces Swiatek for the Rome title on Sunday at #IBI22 pic.twitter.com/OMdMMQ1nmi
— wta (@WTA) May 14, 2022
The world number one has not dropped a set while Jabeur has had to fight hard for her wins against Maria Sakkari in the quarter-finals and Kasatkina today.
Both women come in on strong winning runs though, Jabeur on 11 now while Swiatek has not lost in 27 matches.
4 – Ons #Jabeur is the fourth player ever to reach the final in both Madrid and Rome in a single year after Dinara Safina in 2009, Serena Williams in 2013 and Simona Halep in 2017. Collection.#IBI2022 @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/KpMeIOZSA5
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) May 14, 2022
? Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB
? Social >> Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube
? Read >> World’s best tennis magazine
? Watch >> How to enjoy ATP/WTA/Slam tennis on TV
? Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted partner
? Gambling >> Betway tennis odds