What can be more satisfying than winning over a tough competitor in a crucial match? For many, perhaps nothing comes close. However, Coco Gauff has once again shown why she is not just a champion on the court but a true sportswoman at heart. In a thrilling encounter against Ons Jabeur, Gauff demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship by refusing to accept her latest win. “I wish…”
After an enticing first-round win against Ekaterina Alexandrova (7-6(6), 6-2), Coco Gauff set up a repeat of the French Open quarterfinal against the Tunisian. Jabeur herself reached the Berlin quarterfinal after winning a three-set thriller against Linda Noskova. As the familiar foes kicked off their eighth encounter, it was shaping up to be another Gauff-Jabeur classic. But it couldn’t go past the first set.
In an epic first set where they both held serve throughout to take it to a tiebreak, they traded set points in the seven-point shootout. In the end, Coco Gauff sealed the set on her 8th set-point opportunity, winning the tiebreak 11-9. However, while everyone expected the entertainment, drama, and high-quality tennis to continue, Jabeur called for the trainer at the change of ends. And after an assessment, she retired from the match due to illness, handing the 20-year-old a 6th victory in their head-to-head.