(New York) Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, the No. 5 player in the world and last year’s U.S. Open runner-up, advanced to the second round of the tournament on Tuesday but suffered pain and needed treatment before beating Colombian Camila Osorio (N.68), 7-5, 7-6 (7/4).
Still in search of a first Grand Slam title, after her three defeats in the final of the Wimbledon tournaments (2022, 2023) and in New York last year, the Tunisian asked for a medical break when she was trailing 5 -4 in the first set, after a series of four lost games in a row.
Jabeur appeared to have a cold Friday at a press conference and joked about “American air conditioning killing (her).” Coughing and visibly tired, she nevertheless resumed her place on the court and chained three games to win the first set 7-5. She then briefly returned to her locker room.
In the second set, Jabeur took the lead and could have closed the match but Osorio, very combative, saved two match points and pushed his opponent to a tiebreaker. Jabeur, who turned 29 on Monday, won 7-4 in the tiebreak after 2:16 minutes.
“It was not an easy game. She (Osorio) played amazing and I don’t feel in my best shape today,” the Tunisian said into the microphone on the court after the grueling victory.
She will face in the second round the 18-year-old Czech Linda Noskova (N.41), who beat in the first round the American Madison Brengle, 103rd player in the world (6-2, 6-1).
