Ons Jabeur makes tennis history in never-before-seen feat

Ons Jabeur has roared into the Wimbledon semi-finals thanks to a huge comeback against Marie Bouzkova, claiming a piece of grand slam history in the process.

The third-seed looked to be in trouble after dropping the first set, but bounced back impressively in the second and third to win 3-6 6-1 6-1 - becoming the first Arabic or North African player to make a grand slam semi-final.

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The Tunisian star, who played doubles with Serena Williams as part of her Wimbledon preparation, will be hoping she can go one better when she faces Tatjana Maria.

Coincidentally, Maria is chasing some history of her own, her run through Wimbledon so far potentially setting her up to become just the second mother to win Wimbledon, after Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.

Jabeur, the World No.2, joked that former World No.22 from Morocco, Hicham Arazi, had implored her to win, fully aware of the history she stood to make.

Arazi himself lost four grand slam quarter finals, while Jabeur lost two before making her breakthrough against Bouzkova.

"I was hoping that I could get to this stage for a long time already. I struggled few times in the quarterfinal," Jabeur said.

"I was talking a little bit to Hicham Arazi, and he told me, 'Arabs always lose in the quarterfinals and we are sick of it. Please break this.' I was, like, 'I'll try, my friend,' ... We were just texting, and he was really happy.

"He was, like, 'Thank you for finally making the semifinal. Now you can really go and get the title.'"

Jabeur said it had been diificult to find her range early on, hence why she dropped the first set, but added that her game had come to her as the match wore on.

"I think I played really good from beginning of the second set, especially having a early break kind of helps me gain me the confidence," Jabeur said.

"I know it wasn't easy playing Marie. She gets all the balls and doesn't make, to win a point, easy for me. I'm glad I stepped in with my game. I was more aggressive in the second set, and especially tactically I was playing some angles that she didn't like much."

Ons Jabeur facing stern test against good friend Tatjana Maria

The unfancied Maria was the first player through to Thursday's semi-finals following a 4-6 6-2 7-5 comeback win over fellow German outsider Jule Niemeier, who was making her Wimbledon main-draw debut.

The world No.103 is just the sixth woman in the open era to reach the semis after turning 34, joining legends Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Serena and Venus Williams.

"One year ago, I just gave birth," Maria said. "It's crazy."

And now-14-month-old Cecilia was her second child, too.

Her first daughter Charlotte, born in 2013, was watching on last week as Maria ventured beyond the third round of a slam for the first time in 35 attempts.

"To be a mum of my two kids, for me that's the most important in my life," she said.

"Nothing will change this. I'm here, yeah, I'm in the semi-final of Wimbledon, it's crazy, but I'm still a mum.

"After this I will go out over there and I will see my kids and I will do the same thing that I do every single day."

Jabeur said there's no one she'd prefer to play more in her maiden grand slam semi.

"I love Tatjana so much and her family is so amazing," the 27-year-old said.

"She is my barbecue buddy so it will be tough to play her, obviously.

"But she is a great friend and I am really happy she is in the semi-final."

With AAP

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