COREY SIPKIN/ AFP
An ailing Ons Jabeur scraped by Czech Marie Bouzkova 5-7 7-6(5) 6-3 to maintain her newest US Open marketing campaign on monitor within the third spherical on Saturday regardless of an error-riddled efficiency.
The Tunisian fifth seed mentioned this week she was feeling like a “zombie” because of sickness however got here again from the lifeless to beat a cool-headed Bouzkova, firing off 56 winners beneath the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
She will subsequent play China’s Zheng Qinwen, who beat Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-3 4-6 6-4, within the spherical of 16.
Jabeur could also be generally known as the Minister of Happiness however the perennial fan favourite had little to smile about within the opening set, as her errors shortly piled up and Bouzkova broke her on the fifth strive within the fourth recreation.
The Tunisian broke again with a pleasant backhand slice within the ninth recreation however handed Bouzkova one other break with a double fault on set level.
Down a break within the second set, Bouzkova took an off-court medical timeout after the seventh recreation with an obvious leg damage however saved up the battle at the same time as she often limped across the court docket, breaking again within the tenth.
Jabeur, who at occasions hunched over on the court docket in clear discomfort, discovered new life within the tiebreak, the place she fired off crisp forehand winners to push the affair into a 3rd set.
She obtained the essential break within the sixth set as Bouzkova double faulted and nodded solemnly because the Czech hit a shot into the web on match level, sealing the practically three-hour slugfest.
The Wimbledon runner-up mentioned she had struggled to catch her breath early within the match however was grateful to be enjoying in any respect after struggling a foot damage in Cincinnati.
Jabeur mentioned she expects an enormous problem from fourth-round foe Zheng, in opposition to whom she retired of their final assembly in Toronto in 2022.
Ons Jabeur as soon as once more finds a means! pic.twitter.com/6N29a6758E
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2023
