Wimbledon finalist's stunning act for defeated rival: 'Made me cry'

Tunisian star Ons Jabeur has become the first Arabic woman to win through to a grand slam final after outlasting close friend Tatjana Maria in an engrossing three-set epic.

No Arabic player had qualified for a grand slam semi-final before Jabeur did so earlier this week, with the 27-year-old having never made it past a slam quarter final before this year.

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Her opponent was hoping to make some history of her own, with Maria angling to become the first mother to make a slam final since Margaret Court some 47 years ago.

Jabeur took the first set 6-2, but German star Maria proved she wasn't going down without a fight by bouncing back to take the second set.

It was Jabeur from that point though, with the World No.2 dominating the final set to win 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Jabeur has looked increasingly comfortable on the big stage with her lovely, all-court game that takes a leaf out of the Barty book, garnering her the moniker of the 'Minister for Happiness'.

That nickname proved apt in the moments after the match, with Jabeur grabbing close friend Maria to join her on court after shaking hands to share an embrace and thank to crowd - and have the crowd salute Maria's stunning effort.

Fans were beside themselves over the gesture on social media, with many appreciating the mixture of competitiveness and friendliness.

After starting her Wimbledon preparation with a doubles pairing alongside former champion Serena Williams at Queens, Jabeur has taken her game to the next level.

She said it was thrilling to have made some history, and hoped she would do fans back home proud.

"I'm a proud Tunisian woman standing here today," Jabeur said after the match.

"I just try to inspire really as much as I can - I want to see, not just Tunisian, but more Arab and African players on tour.

"It's tough times in Tunisia sometimes. When they see my matches, always say sports always unites people. I'm happy they follow me. They're pushing me to do better. Hopefully I can keep the title forever!"

Jabeur will face Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in the final on Saturday night, AEST.

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Jabeur became the first African and Arab woman in the 55-year professional era to reach the final and she'll now face Kazakhstan's maiden finalist in a ground-breaking showdown for international tennis on Saturday.

Mum-of-two Maria's outlandish late-career run to the semi-finals at 34 has enchanted the tournament, but Jabeur, known to the German's kids as 'Aunt Ons', eventually spoiled their fun.

Rybakina, the 17th seed, then ruthlessly dispatched Romania's 2019 champion Simona Halep 6-3 6-3 in the second semi-final, demonstrating the power and precision honed in Russia and perfected in Kazakhstan, which four years ago offered her the resources to persuade her to switch allegiances.

Halep simply couldn't cope with the relentless aggression and thumping power of the 23-year-old, who'd knocked out Ajla Tomljanovic in the quarter-finals.

It was hard not to feel sympathy for Moscow-born Rybakina, who spent her news conference then answering questions about her background in the light of the All England Club having banned all Russians this year over the invasion of Ukraine.

"Most of the time I spend on tour. I practice in Slovakia between the tournaments. I had camps in Dubai. So I don't live anywhere, to be honest," she said wearily when pressed on her current Moscow connections, having already declared how much she wanted to see peace.

As shy in demeanour on the court as she's a commanding powerhouse on it, Rybakina cuts a very different figure to Jabeur, four years her senior.

With AAP

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