Show only key events Jabeur 6-2 3-6 5-1 *Maria (*denotes server) Maria’s seemed a bit rushed these last few games, taking chances when she had time to think things through. But perhaps freed from the yoke of competition, she runs to 40-0, and although Jabeur finds a nice pass, she holds for 15, forcing her big partner to serve for the final. *Jabeur 6-2 3-6 5-0 Maria (*denotes server) Jabeur races to 40-0 and then tightens, chipping a weak second serve into the net. But when Maria pulls herself up to the next point, she can’t match a sitting drop, her swing is a bit ragged, and the final is now a game away. Jabeur 6-2 3-6 4-0 *Maria (*denotes server) At 0-15, a big first serve and a solid volley show Maria is still in it, but again, Jabeur attacks a piece and hits a winner – if this was a match, you’d say she’d worked out her opponent’s timing. A backhand then makes it 30-40… but excellent play from Maria, who finds a drop and then a lob, keeps her in the match and brings us level. What I’ve loved about Maria this fortnight is her ferocity and desire to embrace every moment – she defiantly wins a clear exchange for advantage – but Jabeur is attacking her second serve now and she can’t close. A backhand slice, she drives down the line and clears away, then picks up another point for the double break … and when a poor fore turns to the net, Maria races in for the simple clearance … and fires it long! This is the first sign of nerves we’ve seen from her, and the sad truth is that it probably means the end. *Jabeur 6-2 3-6 3-0 Maria (*denotes server) Jabeur talked to herself, because this is much more like it. Her forehand goes, and though she hits a simple volley straight to Maria, who is forking it well, a long serve seals her score at 15. Photo: Neil Hall/EPA Updated 15.08 BST Jabeur 6-2 3-6 2-0 *Maria (*denotes server) Jabeur makes it 15-30, but again a slice does enough to get her off her forehand as she moves into the middle of the court. That she took it up though is a good sign because that’s what she has to do, and when Maria scores a squash-shot, she has a break point… and it is! Maria moves forward, leaving Jabeur plenty of time to pick a pass, and she lands a cross-court top spin forehand to move further ahead. *Jabeur 6-2 3-6 1-0 Maria (*denotes server) Jabeur can play much better even than she did in the first set, which she dominated – if she plays her game, she will win, but was holding back from the start. This, however, is more like it, a love supported by a leaping winner on the pitches that puts an exclamation point on the game. Jabeur 6-2 3-6 *Maria (*denotes server) YES TATJANA MARIA! It’s 40-0 in seconds so Jabeur finds her missing arm to hit the winner which gives her a little whiff. But then another one of those backhand slices that just barely moves off the racket, and we have ourselves to decide! We are level! Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Updated at 14.58 BST *Jabeur 6-2 3-5 Maria (*denotes server) Another great shot when facing the wrong way, this time from around the hip, gives Jabeur 30-0, but a double brings Maria into the game and winner gives makes 30-all. Two points for the set! Jabeur then lands a forehand, trying to force the pace, and only needs one! But Jabeur finds the first serve she needs, building confidently from there. she can’t close right away, a hopeful drop that burns one of her game points, but it’s just as well, because the way she takes a drop and then glides to gently slide a backhand diagonally across the surface of the net is sensational . Maria will have to serve it… Jabeur 6-2 2-5 *Maria (*denotes server) Maria looks a lot more confident now. she is enjoying herself. At 30-15, Jabeur creates an angle to send a forehand spinning cross-court to bounce just inside the sideline, but Maria holds firm, excellent defense, ensuring she won’t be easily put away on top for 40-30 and then closes. It’s one game away from a decision. *Jabeur 6-2 2-4 Maria (*denotes server) Better than Jabeur, powering up a forehand to make it 40-0, before faking one to tickle the tiniest of drops just over the net with Maria stuck. Updated at 14.49 BST Jabeur 6-2 1-4 *Maria (*denotes server) You get the feeling that Jabeur will step it up in this game, but a weak piece from Maria means she isn’t needed to get 15-all. Maria, however, measures her piece much better now, making it difficult for Jabeur to unleash her power, perhaps the big difference between the players. At 40-15 we see she has made 10 unforced errors so far in this set, twice as many as her opponent… but at 40-30, we see an incredible shot, Maria playing a very good piece in his corner forward and somehow squash-shot Jabeur from behind her shoulder and around her boot, pitching for a winner. This is ridiculous behavior, and after Maria doubles the advantage, she is left behind in the next rally, the writing obviously on the wall. But a perfect lob wins her advantage, she pushes it and it’s much more of a contest now. *Jabeur 6-2 1-3 Maria (*denotes server) A terrific piece from Jabeur at 15 – it’s on the baseline and the shot barely makes the service box – presents Maria with a flash … and though a big serve makes it 30-all, another error and she faces her first break point of the match. That’s all Maria needs, a nicely placed drop that stays too low to return! Are we having a ball game? Jabeur 6-2 1-2 *Maria (*denotes server) Another forehand error from Maria puts Jabeur at 0-15, but after building a chance to hit a winner, she runs to the net and hits a forehand into the tram lines . No matter: another fault and another double mean two more break points, the first saved by a telling forehand-volley combination … then a sinking piece means Jabeur can’t get under her forehand as she would like and the ball falls far. Maria is game, she really is, and runs with advantages to secure her hold – but how can she make an impression when receiving? Elena Rybakina looks a little out of place. Photo: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images Updated at 14.47 BST *Jabeur 6-2 1-1 Maria (*declares server) Another ace gives Jabeur 30-15, and although Maria can’t do anything about it, she might want to unload on any second serves she faces . Meanwhile, Jabeur nails a backhand down the line and then misses one, which leads us to break, but Maria hits a forehand and shows her frustration that this was a chance to hit a winner. In the event, seconds later the game is gone. Jabeur 6-2 0-1 *Maria (*denotes server) A second double of the match puts Jabeur 15-all, but a deft and final volley, then a long return, makes it 40-15. Maria has come back from a set in three matches here – albeit not against players of Jabeur’s caliber – to stay at 15. *Jabeur 6-2 Maria (denotes server) The first ace of the match puts Jabeur away, another is right behind him and you’re worried about Maria now. The set is duly attached to love, and it’s all pretty one-sided. Ons Jabeur puts down an ace. Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Updated at 14.17 BST Jabeur 5-2 Maria (*denotes server) They force us to change channels, during which we lose, or at least me, what was, apparently, a great duel at the net – Mari won this time, but with Jabeur playing was shot in the wrong direction. He gives her 30-0, but it’s soon 30-all, and a wild forehand concedes another break point. This time, he chips and charges, but there’s not enough pace, depth or spin to the approach, so the ball sits upright and Jabeur lifts the pass right through the stretch. He will now serve for the first set. *Jabeur 4-2 Maria (*denotes server) Nerves aside, I can see why she’s playing it a little safe – Maria doesn’t have the weapons to hurt her, so provided she doesn’t get stupid how will she find a way to lose ? – but by playing conservatively, Maria is encouraged to attack and if she gets a run, she can win. Anyway, Jabeur is hitting through the ball in this hold, even though she’s only 30, and she’s starting to figure out how to play Maria’s slice. Jabeur 3-2 *Maria (*denotes server) Maria won a few clean exchanges early on but would generally do well to stay away from them – she misses one that gives Jabeur 15-30 but more than that, She never looked likely to get it, without the art, strength, and ingenuity of her opponent. We end up at deuce, but to Maria’s advantage, Jabeur’s return lands a forehand winner in the corner, then she plays two airy pieces, the first of which is punished and the second … ends up in the net. Deuce again, and Jabeur takes too many seemingly safe options, taking pace off the ball when a more positive game would probably have her 5-0. But instead it gives Maria another chance to close, and we’re still on a break. *Jabeur 3-1 Maria (*denotes server) At the change of ends, we see Nadal’s VT take a hit, which is good news – we hope to see him tomorrow. Back at Center, Jabeur lands a forehand, then another, and even if she gets it going in this match, she won’t get away with such a start to the final. She didn’t look nervous when she came out, but she usually doesn’t play like that … but she usually plays this, a great drop on the run making it 30-all. He’s got no hands, he’s got HANDS, and a great scoop over the net from close range, racket angle changing at the last second, makes it 40-30. But then a loopy backhand drifts wide – Maria confidently leaves it but it was close – takes us by surprise, the points against the serve coming from dead-end errors, before Jabeur eases into her consolidation, the closing point…
