LONDON: Ons Jabeur marked her rise to number two in the world by easing into the Wimbledon second round with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Swedish qualifier Mirjam Bjorklund on Monday.
Jabeur, a quarterfinalist in 2021 and fresh from the grasscourt title in Berlin, raced to victory in just 54 minutes under the Court One roof.
“Today I achieved my highest ever ranking and dropping just four games is a great start to the tournament”, said the Tunisian.
“It’s amazing to be back on Court One. The grass suits my drop shots and slice.
“Now I hope to go further than the quarterfinals.”
Jabeur will face either Rebecca Marino of Canada or Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa for a place in the last 32.
RAIN HALTS PLAY
Rain brought a halt to play after just 30 minutes on the first day of Wimbledon on Monday.
Action on the outside courts was suspended at 1140 local time (1040 GMT), with officials saying there would be no resumption before 1300.
However, Novak Djokovic will be able to start his title defence on time later on Monday, with his clash against Kwon Soon-Woo of South Korea taking place beneath the Centre Court roof. — AFP
Results: Men (1st rd): Quentin Halys (Fra) bt Benoit Paire (Fra) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4; 23-Frances Tiafoe (US) bt Andrea Vavassori (ITA) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4; Jaume Munar (Esp) bt Thiago Monteiro (Bra) 6-2, 6-4, 7-5; 30-Tommy Paul (US) bt Fernando Verdasco (Esp) 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4)
Women (1st rd):
Maja Chwalinska (Pol) bt Katerina Siniakova (Cze) 6-0, 7-5; 28-Alison Riske (US) bt 3-Ylena In-Albon (Sui) 6-2, 6-4; 3-Ons Jabeur (Tun) bt Mirjam Bjorklund (Swe) 6-1, 6-3; 29-Anhelina Kalinina (Ukr) bt Anna Bondar (Hun) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Lesia Tsurenko (Ukr) bt Jodie Burrage (Gbr) 6-2, 6-3
