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.



Coach Peseiro Leaves Egypt's Zamalek after 3 Months

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Nigeria Press Conference - Abidjan, Ivory Coast - February 10, 2024 Jose Peseiro during a press conference REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Nigeria Press Conference - Abidjan, Ivory Coast - February 10, 2024 Jose Peseiro during a press conference REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo
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Coach Peseiro Leaves Egypt's Zamalek after 3 Months

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Nigeria Press Conference - Abidjan, Ivory Coast - February 10, 2024 Jose Peseiro during a press conference REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Nigeria Press Conference - Abidjan, Ivory Coast - February 10, 2024 Jose Peseiro during a press conference REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

Zamalek ended Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro's contract by mutual consent, the Egyptian soccer club said on Wednesday, after less than three months in charge due to poor results.

"An agreement has been reached between Zamalek and coach Jose Peseiro to mutually terminate the contract," the club said on Facebook. "We wish you the best in your future endeavors."

Former Porto and Sporting Lisbon coach Peseiro, 65, joined Zamalek on February 14 to become only the fifth coach to lead both Egyptian rivals Zamalek and Al-Ahly.
However, Zamalek, the defending champions, were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup and the Egyptian League Cup under Peseiro, and a poor run in the league saw them slip to third place, seven points adrift of leaders Pyramids.
Peseiro has previously coached the national teams of Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, as well as the Saudi club Al-Hilal and United Arab Emirates' teams Al Wahda and Sharjah.