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Tomljanovic falls to Jabeur in US Open quarterfinals | 7 September, 2022 | All News | News and Features | News and Events

Tomljanovic falls to Jabeur in US Open quarterfinals | 7 September, 2022 | All News | News and Features | News and Events

Ajla Tomljanovic’s magnificent US Open campaign ended on Tuesday after a gallant loss to Wimbledon finalist and No.5 seed Ons Jabeur at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

New York, USA, 7 September 2022 | Matt Trollope

Ajla Tomljanovic’s magnificent US Open 2022 campaign ended after a gallant quarterfinal loss to fifth seed Ons Jabeur at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The Australian came ever-so-close to forcing a third set, before going down 6-4 7-6(4) to Jabeur, the recent Wimbledon finalist.

Earlier in the tournament, Tomljanovic scored a stunning three-hour victory over the great Serena Williams, in what is expected to be the 23-time major champion’s last professional match.

She then backed up that triumph against the in-form Liudmila Samsonova, saving eight set points before eventually snapping the Russian’s 13-match, 18-set winning streak.

Those draining triumphs may have sapped Tomljanovic of some energy, as she mostly played catch-up against the world No.5.

Jabeur advances to a semifinal meeting against either Coco Gauff or Caroline Garcia.

“Ajla plays really good. I know physically it’s going to be a tough match. Even emotionally it was kind of tough to manage the frustration, because when you have breaks and you want to finish,” said Jabeur, who has now won all three career meetings with Tomljanovic.

“But she keeps fighting, and she makes it tough for me.”

Indeed, after the first set-and-half, which Jabeur largely controlled with her imaginative play and built a 24-9 advantage in winners, the dynamic of the match shifted.

The Tunisian held three game points for a 6-4 3-1 lead, and another point for 4-2 in the second.

But she was unable to convert any of those opportunities – Tomljanovic’s relentlessness in rallies played a part in that – and her frustration mounted.

From 3-2 down in the second set, Tomljanovic rattled off three straight games to take a commanding position, as the Aussie looked to partake in a third straight epic.

But a sign of that potential physical and mental fatigue emerged in the very next game, as she was broken to love – surrendering the game with a double fault.

The Aussie re-set, only narrowly missing a backhand return winner down the line, which had it landed in would have given her two set points at 15-40.

But Jabeur escaped, held for 5-5, and the set progressed to a tiebreak.

Tomljanovic kept it close when she won an intense rally with a forehand winner, to trail 4-5.

But Jabeur…

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