"I was hoping that I could get to this stage for a long time" - Jabeur on Wimbledon semifinals

The No.3 seed rallied from a set down to defeat Marie Bouzkova in Tuesday's quarterfinals, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, to reach the semifinals at a major for the first time.

she'll next face fellow first-time semifinalist Tatjana Maria for a spot in the Wimbledon final as Maria also came from a set down in beating fellow German Jule Niemeier in Tuesday's other three-set quarterfinal. They'll play for the first time in four years.

Jabeur said:

"I was hoping that I could get to this stage for a long time already. I struggled few times in the quarterfinal. I was talking a little bit to [Moroccan ATP former World No.22 and four-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist] Hicham Arazi, and he told me, 'Arabs always lose in the quarterfinals and we are sick of it. Please break this.' I was, like, 'I'll try, my friend,' ... We were just texting, and he was really happy. He was, like, 'Thank you for finally making the semifinal. Now you can really go and get the title.'"

She further said:

"I think I played really good from beginning of the second set, especially having a early break kind of helps me gain me the confidence. I know it wasn't easy playing Marie. She gets all the balls and doesn't make, to win a point, easy for me. I'm glad I stepped in with my game. I was more aggressive in the second set, and especially tactically I was playing some angles that she didn't like much."