Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur Reaches Semi Finals of Italian Open

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Greece's Maria Sakkari. Reuters
Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Greece's Maria Sakkari. Reuters
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Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur Reaches Semi Finals of Italian Open

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Greece's Maria Sakkari. Reuters
Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Greece's Maria Sakkari. Reuters

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur is in the semis of the women's draw in the Italian Open after bouncing back from being a game away from defeat to beat Maria Sakkari 1-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Jabeur made history last weekend by winning in Madrid to become the first Arab or African player to claim a WTA 1000 title and let out a roar of delight after a magnificent win at the Foro Italico.

The 27-year-old looked certain to be heading out after being hammered by world number four Sakkari in the first set in Rome and going down 5-2 in the second.

Greece's Sakkari was serving for what appeared to be a routine win but from nowhere Jabeur pushed back, breaking serve in game eight before winning the next seven to go three ahead in set three, a lead which she never relinquished.

"In my head at 5-2 I said, You cannot finish those two weeks, those amazing almost three weeks, like this," Jabeur told reporters.

"To back up the performance from Madrid, it's very important for me... It's one of the reasons why I'm here, why I want to continue showing myself on the court."

In the last four Jabeur will face Daria Kasatkina, who went through after Switzerland's Jil Tiechmann retired injured while the Russian was leading 6-4, 3-2.



Man City Freezes Ticket Prices amid Growing Fan Disgruntlement

Soccer spectators attend the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Soccer spectators attend the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
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Man City Freezes Ticket Prices amid Growing Fan Disgruntlement

Soccer spectators attend the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Soccer spectators attend the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Amid growing disgruntlement among its fans, Manchester City announced Wednesday the club is freezing ticket prices for the 2025-26 season.

City said the price freeze related to general-admission season tickets and match-by-match tickets for Premier League games and came after a consultation meeting with a fan engagement group.

Many City supporters stayed in the concourses inside the Etihad Stadium for the first nine minutes of the Premier League game against Leicester last week to protest against the club’s new partnership with a third-party ticket resale platform, The AP news reported.

That came after seven City fans groups sent an open letter to the club complaining about the rise in ticket prices in recent seasons and the prospect of local fans being frozen out of attending games.

In a statement, City said “positive and constructive dialogue” has taken place over recent weeks with City Matters, the club’s elected fan engagement program.

“The club would like to thank City Matters representatives for the feedback they provide on a range of topics relating to ticketing,” City said, “and for sharing a broad range of perspectives from the fans they represent.”