NEW YORK: Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur reached the last 16 of the US Open for the first time on Friday after defeating Shelby Rogers of the United States.
Fifth seed Jabeur, who made history at Wimbledon in July after becoming the first African woman to reach the final at the All England Club, came from behind to advance 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The 28-year-old will face Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova in the fourth round.
Friday’s victory saw Jabeur book a place in the fourth round of the US Open at the 10th time of asking.
In nine previous appearances in New York she had not got beyond the third round.
“Crazy, crazy match,” Jabeur said after her win. “Shelby plays really well.
“I’m glad I got the win. It was difficult to adapt to how well she was playing. I was happy that I kept fighting to the end and got the win.”
Rogers, the 31st seed, reached the quarter-finals in New York two years ago, her best performance at the tournament.
The right-hander from South Carolina flirted with a remarkable comeback in the third set after saving four match points before holding serve for 5-2.
She then broke Jabeur to reduce the deficit to 5-3, but lost her next service game to love as the Tunisian advanced.
Ons Jabeur rallies past Shelby Rogers to advance at US Open
https://arab.news/w3ep6
Ons Jabeur rallies past Shelby Rogers to advance at US Open
- The 28-year-old will face Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova in the fourth round
Morocco part company with coach Regragui as World Cup looms
RABAT: Morocco parted company with coach Walid Regragui on Thursday, three months before the World Cup, with the country’s football federation naming Mohamed Ouahbi as his replacement.
Regragui leaves despite having led the Atlas Lions to the World Cup semifinals in 2022 and to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations at the beginning of this year.
“I leave my post with loyalty, gratitude, and the certainty that I have served my country,” he declared during a ceremony broadcast live on television, confirming weeks of persistent rumors that he was on his way out.
Ouahbi, 49, is promoted to the role having overseen Morocco’s triumph at the Under-20 World Cup in October, with the federation describing the move as “a strategic transition” in the run-up to the World Cup in North America in June and July.
“It’s a desire not to waste time and to take a different direction,” a source close to the Moroccan Federation told AFP.
“By appointing Mohamed Ouahbi and welcoming top-tier reinforcements, we are raising our standards and our demands,” the source said.
Morocco will be in Group C at the World Cup along with five-time winners Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.
They begin their campaign against Brazil at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City on June 13 and will be hoping to make a big impression at the tournament before co-hosting the 2030 edition with Spain and Portugal.
“Our ambition is to consolidate our place among the best nations in a sustainable way and to perform well from this summer, as well as in 2030,” the leader of the Moroccan federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, said recently.
Regragui was hailed in 2022 after Morocco became the first African nation in World Cup history to reach the semifinals, beating Spain and Portugal along the way.
However, Regragui likely paid the ultimate price for the manner in which Morocco lost the recent AFCON final to Senegal.
His team were beaten 1-0 after extra-time at the end of a match marred by the Senegal team’s decision to walk off the pitch in protest at the award of a controversial late penalty to the hosts.
The penalty award with the game goalless sparked trouble in the crowd involving Senegal fans, 18 of whom were jailed following the disruption.
Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz eventually took the penalty after a long delay but his kick was saved and Senegal went on to win the game.
