LONDON, (The Southern African Times) – Tunisian Ons Jabeur looks to advance to her first quarterfinal of 2021 after booking her place in the second round (Round of 16) of the Qatar Open by defeating Anna Blinkova on Tuesday.
Jabeur won in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 against the Russian qualifier to book a date against 2017 champion KarolÃna PlÃÅ¡ková.
The 26-year-old, who fired three aces, won 81 percent of her first serve points and converted four of eight break points against her opponent while saving the two break points that she faced.
Jabeur’s match against PlÃÅ¡ková will be their third meeting and a rematch from last year’s tournament at the same stage where the Tunisian triumphed in three sets to advance to the quarterfinals.
Jabeur’s win against the former world number one, coming off her historic run to the Australian Open quarterfinals, was, at the time, her biggest completed win by ranking.
The winner of the match will face either American Jessica Pegula or Latvian Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinals.
Having fallen agonizingly short to Aryna Sabalenka at the Abu Dhabi Open and Angelique Kerber at the Grampians Trophy, Jabeur will hoping it will be third time lucky at making the last eight of a tournament.
