WHAT HAPPENED: Ons Jabeur was made to truly earn her fourth successive US Open third round ticket with a 7-5, 6-2 passage past American youngster Elizabeth Mandlik.
"I'm very happy with the win. Definitely I played better in the second set. Just happy that I managed the conditions. Was kind of tough to deal with the humidity, but hopefully I will improve even better and play even better in the third round."
The wild card Mandlik was fearless, featuring in her Grand Slam debut, and used her skiing background to gracefully glide around the court. The 21-year-old’s pace and purpose to transition up the court was pinning the No. 5 seed back and Mandlik posted a 3-1 break lead.
Jabeur’s drop shot repertoire and variety clicked into gear. A clipped backhand half volley was majestic, as the Tunisian used that mid-court winner as the catalyst to draw level.
Mandlik, the daughter of 1985 US Open champion Hana Mandlikova, had other ideas and canvassed the net with some razor-sharp reactions to then have the opportunity to serve out the opener.
Back came Jabeur, the supremely talented Tunisian’s knifed backhand and reading of Mandlik’s responses restored parity. Within a few dominant minutes the world No. 5 had the wild card on the run and prevailed in a pulsating rally to raise her right arm aloft in celebration with a set lead.
Wimbledon finalist Jabeur was able to latch onto some more punchy returns and a collection of crowd-pleasing shots quickly conjured up a 3-0 break lead.
Despite her lack of top tier experience, Mandlik would not wilt and defiantly held and then capitalised upon a brace of Jabeur double faults to edge to within one game. However, the Tunisian regained her range to arrow a backhand pass to complete another morale-boosting win with the exact same scoreline from her first round.
WHAT IT MEANS: The upsets and seed dismissals keep on coming at Flushing Meadows, so Jabeur will be relieved to reach the last 32 without dropping a set. No. 31 seed Shelby Rogers awaits, who thrives at her home Grand Slam. “Shelby plays really well on hard courts,” said Jabeur, holding a 2-0 record taking over the 2020 quarterfinalist.
"She's a player that improved a lot and it's going to be a tough match, but the main goal for me is to impose my game, because I know I can bother her with the changing of the rhythm.
"It's going to be tough playing her at the US Open as an American, but looking forward to give it my all."
Will Jabeur make her maiden journey into the last 16 in New York?
"When I came here, my goal was to be in the second week, and my goal was to really improve more and get through the third round," continued the Arab trailblazer.
"I'm just taking each match at a time, and hopefully will learn from other US Opens. I have a mission. I'm No. 5 in the world, so for me I'm trying to represent that number as much as I can so I can really improve my game and I can really continue and improve my ranking, hopefully."
MATCH POINT: Victory in the Grandstand gifted Jabeur her 40th match win of a magnificent 2022. It’s a milestone only reached so far by world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
