Ons Jabeur has made an impressive return to the
Wimbledon final. Facing a potential defeat, the No. 6 seed fought back to secure a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 victory over No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka on Center Court.
اضافة اعلان
This win earns Jabeur her third career Grand Slam final appearance and her second consecutive final at the All England Club, WTA reported.
Jabeur's achievement is notable as she becomes the first woman since
Serena Williams in 2018–19 to reach back-to-back Wimbledon finals.
In the upcoming final on Saturday, she will face the Czech left-hander Marketa Vondrousova, who becomes the first unseeded Wimbledon women's finalist in the
Open Era.
Reflecting on her journey, Jabeur expressed her excitement, stating, "Last year marked my first Grand Slam final appearance. I feel like I'm getting closer to winning the Grand Slam I've always dreamed of. I have always believed in myself, but at times, doubts would creep in regarding whether it would ever happen. Being in the final stages certainly helps reinforce that belief."
The competition
In a repeat of her previous match against
Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals, Jabeur once again rallied from a set down to secure a thrilling three-set victory.
With wins over Rybakina, Sabalenka, and Petra Kvitova throughout the tournament, Jabeur becomes the first woman since Williams in 2012 to defeat three Top 10 players at Wimbledon.
Assessing the tough competition she faced, Jabeur acknowledged, "This year's draw has been much more challenging. I have played against incredible players who not only excel on any surface but particularly on grass. It was a daunting task, but it has given me more confidence for the final.
“It has allowed me to establish a rhythm of playing exceptional tennis in preparation for the next match."
Semifinal broken-down
During her semifinal against Sabalenka, Jabeur found herself trailing by a set and a break at 7-6(5), 4-2.
However, she quickly turned the tide by denying Sabalenka two chances to take a 5-3 lead and subsequently breaking her serve for the first time in the match. Jabeur then won four consecutive games in the second set and broke Sabalenka in the sixth game of the deciding set, completing a remarkable comeback.
Securing victory was not without its challenges, as Jabeur needed five match points. Sabalenka saved two match points on her serve in the eighth game, and Jabeur let two more slip away from a 40-0 advantage in the final game.
However, Jabeur eventually sealed the win in two hours and 19 minutes with a crucial ace, her first of the set and only the third in the entire match, compared to Sabalenka's 10, according to WTA.
‘One serve, one game’
Reflecting on her mindset during the match, Jabeur shared, "For me, it was about focusing on one serve, one game. Breaking Sabalenka was a tough task, especially with her varied and fast serves. I decided to approach it by going in and hitting my return. It worked in my favor as she made a few errors, which helped me stay in the game. I fought for every point, waiting for a chance to seize the momentum, and that's exactly what happened."
Looking ahead to the final, Jabeur holds a 3-3 head-to-head record against Vondrousova, including a victory in their only previous meeting on grass. However, this year, Jabeur has suffered two losses against her. Vondrousova emerged victorious at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells.
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