Tunisia’s Anne Xavier, the fifth seed, overcame another close call at this year’s US Open, storming back in the third set to defeat Czech teenager Linda Noskova 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-3. Second round meeting.
Jaber, a US Open finalist last year, survived two tight sets against Camila Osorio in the first round and was pushed further by the 18-year-old Noskova on Thursday night.
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Jabir was down 3-2 in the third set, but he went on to win the next four games in a row after 2 hours and 8 minutes of play on the grandstand court.
„I think it was a great match for both of us,” Zabir said in his post-match press conference. „I respect that [Noskova] A lot. I definitely think she is the future of tennis. Although it was very difficult for me, it was nice to win especially the second set.”
The match was drawn: Noskova is currently ranked 41st. Having previously defeated Jabur, she reached her first WTA final in Adelaide this January, the first 5 wins of the Czech’s fledgling career.
This time, Zabir successfully secured another match between players, denying Noskova a second top 5 win. The Tunisian leveled their match at one win apiece as she struggled in the third round of the US Open for the fifth year in a row.
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With this victory, Jabir has won 13 Grand Slams so far in 2023, the most Grand Slams he has won in a single year. While reaching the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open last year, he lost in the first round at Roland Garros and missed out on the Australian Open, breaking his total of 12 Grand Slam wins last year.
Match Breakdown: Zabeer took the 55-minute first set to a tiebreak, converting his third set point with a forehand winner. However, Noskova raced to a 5-1 lead in the second set and then broke a late Jabhurin fightback to level the match at a set apiece.
In the decider, Jabir fell behind at 3-2 but quickly regrouped to send Noskova level at 3-3. Zabeer returned to lead 5-3 with a backhand winner and the Tunisian won a tough hold to convert her fourth match point.
Zabir finished the match with 17 winners and only five unforced errors over Noskova. Each player had four breaks in the match.
Next: Zapier will face another Czech in Saturday’s third round, 31st seed Marie Bouskova, who beat Petra Martic 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday.
In their only previous meeting, Zapier came back from a set down to beat Bouskova in last year’s Wimbledon quarter-finals. Later that week, Jabir made his first Grand Slam final in London.
„In general, I have a lot of respect for the Czech tennis school,” Zabir said. „They have really fantastic players. Another test [against] Mary. She is amazing too. It will be tough to play against her but I will prepare and prepare well for the match.
„Całkowity introwertyk. Nieprzejednany specjalista od sieci. Przyjazny fanatyk bekonu. Student ekstremalnych. Miłośnik piwa. Organizator.”