LONDON | A year after suffering a heartbreaking setback in the’last game of the fortnightthe Tunisian Ons Jabeur is back in the final at Wimbledon, with an irresistible comeback against the second seed of the tournament, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
Trailing 4-2 in the second set against Sabalenka, the sixth seed hung on, managed to counter the power of the Australian Open winner and finally triumphed 6-7 (5), 6-4 and 6-3.
The Canadian’s faller Bianca Andreescu in a close third-round encounter will now have in her sights on Saturday the surprising Czech Marketa Vondrousova, world 42nd, who stopped the’Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, earlier in the day.
An irresistible chance to forget the time when it was she who was the victim of a comeback from her opponent – the Kazakh Elena Rybakina, whom she beat in the quarterfinals this year –, in a final on the London turf in which she is still unable to view the entire images.
“A year ago, even six months ago, I might have lost that game [contre Sabalenka]said the friendly 28-year-old player, nicknamed the Minister of Happiness in her country, at a press conference. […] But I’m a different player now. I’m working on myself like crazy, you have no idea.”
First row private
This triumph of Jabeur at the same time deprives Sabalenka of a chance to climb to the top of the chessboard of women’s tennis, where the Polish Iga Swiatek currently sits.
Aryna Sabalenka. Photo AFP
It also avoids the possibility of a malaise, Saturday on the central of the All England Club, where the princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, could have had to give to a Belarusian the trophy of the champion, a year after the athletes of Russia and Belarus were banned from Wimbledon due to both countries’ invasion of Ukraine.
for revenge
But, also, it could allow Jabeur, also a finalist at the US Open last year, to become the first African to win a major title.
Our Jabeur. Photo AFP
Beware, however: this will be a third game between Vondrousova and the former world No. 2 this season and each time the Czech has prevailed.
“I’m going for my revenge,” said the Tunisian. I haven’t beaten her this year. […] But we are both hungry for victory. Whoever wants it more will win.”
Revenge on Vondrousova… and on the Jabeur she was, a year ago, in the Wimbledon final.
2023-07-13 16:41:42
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