Ons Jabeur came to Paris confident as a title threat. Magda Linette had other designs in ousting the No. 6 seed, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 on Day 1 of the 2022 French Open. A visual look at their first-round nailbiter.
After trading three breaks early on Court Philippe Chatrier, Jabeur established control to build a one-set lead.
Fresh off a title run in Madrid and runner-up finish at Rome, Jabeur was primed to get off the court unscathed when Linette served at 3-4, 0-40, in the second set.
But the Tunisian didn’t capitalize and Linette’s crosscourt backhand began to have greater impact as the set moved into a tiebreaker.
Though Jabeur held an early mini break, Linette took six of the final seven points to force a decider.
With Linette leading by a break in the third set, rain eventually picked up. The match however, continued without much delay.
After breaking back, Jabeur dug in to save two break points in leveling for 4-4.
But Linette frustrated the world No. 6, giving Jabeur a dose of her own medicine with well-executed drop shots.
At 5-6, Jabeur led 40-0 and we appeared headed to a decisive 10-point tiebreaker. Some shaky play at net, which included netting an overhead at 40-30, gave her opponent a window.
And Linette jumped at the chance to knock out the first Top 10 seed of the tournament in either singles draw.
In 2:28, the Pole avenged her third-round loss to Jabeur here a year ago—a clash that also involved a three-set rally.
The Pole avenged her third-round loss to Jabeur here a year ago, a clash that also involved a three-set rally by the winning competitor.