Jabeur became the first Arab woman to win a WTA title at the Birmingham Classic in June and, having become the first Arab woman to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon, continues to break new ground.
Having despatched five-time champion Venus Williams in straight sets, the 21st seed’s excellent comeback victory over 2017 champion Garbine Muguruza on Friday ensured her best run at Wimbledon would continue into the second week.
Up against Poland’s 2020 French Open champion on ‘Manic Monday’ at SW19, Jabeur made her latest statement as she pursues her target of a semi-final appearance.
Though her nerves at match point against Muguruza led to her vomiting at the back of the court before serving out the win – something she later said was related to stomach inflammation, which can be affected by nerves – the world number 24 faced no such issues as she recovered from a set down to claim an impressive victory.
Swiatek, 20, responded from 3-1 down in the first set, having been broken in her opening service game, and again from 5-3 behind as she closed out with four successive games to edge ahead in a quality encounter.
World number 24 Jabeur broke impressively at the start of the second set, though, a frustrated Swiatek striking the net with her racquet as she fell 2-0 behind – and the Pole’s position deteriorated further from there, as Jabeur surrendered just one game on her way to levelling the match in impressive fashion.
And there was to be no let-up, as the Tunisian produced another sublime set of tennis, sealing her progress in style as she took the final five games without reply to match her best Grand Slam performance – having also reached the quarter-finals at the 2020 Australian Open.
On being considered an inspiration for women from North Africa, Jabeur said: “I have worked hard for this. I’ve worked hard to earn my place here. I just want to give the example for many generation coming from North Africa, from my country, from the African continent, that it’s not impossible, that we can do it.
“I’m trying to carry this message from very long time. Hopefully it is working.”