Ons Jabeur feeling the love in San Jose, Paula Badosa awaits Coco Gauff or Naomi Osaka in quarter-final

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Ons Jabeur in action

Playing in her first match since finishing runner-up at Wimbledon, Ons Jabeur overcame a bumpy opening set to ease past Madison Keys in the second round of the Silicon Valley Classic while Paula Badosa survived a scare.

Having taken some time out after losing against Elena Rybakina in three sets in the final at the All England Club in July, Jabeur returned to action with a 7-5, 6-1 win over former US Open runner-up Keys.

The Tunisian was quick out of the blocks in California as she broke in the opening game of the match, but Keys stepped up to the plate as she was back on serve in game four.

World No 23 Keys then looked like she would take the opening set after breaking to love to open a 3-5 lead, but Jabeur went up a gear as she broke back immediately – winning the final four games of the set.

The 27-year-old dominated the second set with breaks in games one, five and seven.

“I’m grateful that I played at night because it’s slower and it helps me a little bit with the conditions,” world No 5 Jabeur said during her on-court interview.

“I know she plays the ball fast. But huge respect for her. She’s a great player. I knew it was going to be a tough match for me. I just tried to stay low and hit the ball as much as I can. Make her play another ball and in the end I was feeling much better.”

She added: “It feels like home seeing all the Tunisian flags and all the Tunisians. Not just Tunisians, but also I know there are a lot of Arab fans here and Americans who supported me.”

Second seed Badosa had her work cut out for her as wildcard Elizabeth Mandlik found herself a break up in the decider, but experience told in the end as the Spaniard won 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5).

After losing her serve in the first game, Badosa broke in games two, four and eight to take the opening set before Mandlik – daughter of four-time Grand Slam champion Hana Mandlikova – hit back with two breaks to one in the second set.

The 21-year-old then found herself 5-3 up after she broke to love in game seven, but Badosa broke back in game 10 only for the youngster to again edge in front. Another break from the Spaniard took the match to a tie-breaker and Badosa edged it.

Naomi Osaka on Coco Gauff: ‘She’s improving and it’s only a matter of time before she wins a [Grand] Slam’

The world No 4 will face either Coco Gauff or Naomi Osaka in the quarter-final.

“I think sometimes it’s a little bit confusing when you play against a player with her ranking because sometimes you don’t expect that kind of score and you think you’re not doing things well,” Badosa said. “But to be honest, I think I played pretty good and she only played unbelievable and I have to accept it.”

Madison Keys Ons Jabeur Paula Badosa

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