In England’s prestigious Wimbledon tournament, Ons Jabeur demonstrated incredible resilience in the semifinals. Despite being at a disadvantage, trailing by a set and a break in the second set, Jabeur’s mental fortitude, honed with the guidance of a sports psychologist, enabled her to overcome the challenging on-court circumstances. With unwavering focus and precision in her shots, she managed to turn the tide in her favor. This exceptional performance at Centre Court not only secured her a spot in the final for the second year in a row but also marked her third appearance in a Grand Slam title match out of the past five tournaments. Jabeur’s ultimate goal now is to claim the coveted trophy. Demonstrating her mettle, the sixth-seeded Jabeur triumphed over the powerful Aryna Sabalenka, prevailing with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3.
“I’m extremely proud of myself because the old me would have likely lost the match today and gone home. But I’m glad that I dug deep and found the strength to push through,” expressed Jabeur, a 28-year-old Tunisian, who holds the distinction of being the sole Arab and North African woman to reach a major final.
Jabeur further explained her ability to channel negative energy into positive energy, revealing her capacity to overcome the frustration she felt after losing the first set. She acknowledged that certain aspects were beyond her control, such as her opponent’s ability to ace or deliver powerful serves even during critical moments like break points. Despite this, she expressed gratitude for accepting the circumstances and mustering the determination to win the match and, ideally, the tournament.
To achieve her goal, Jabeur will face off against Marketa Vondrousova, a left-handed player from the Czech Republic, in the final on Saturday. Vondrousova made history by becoming the first unseeded women’s finalist at Wimbledon since Billie Jean King in 1963, defeating Elina Svitolina with a score of 6-3, 6-3.
Similar to Jabeur, Vondrousova has previously reached a major final, but both players are yet to secure a title. Vondrousova was the runner-up at the 2019 French Open when she was still a teenager.
“We both have a strong desire to win,” remarked Jabeur.
In Slam finals thus far, Jabeur has a record of 0-2. She lost to Elena Rybakina at the All England Club in July of the previous year and to Iga Swiatek at the U.S. Open in September.
Jabeur’s impressive victory over the second-seeded Sabalenka, who had previously won the Australian Open in January, showcased her remarkable prowess. Prior to this match, Jabeur had already defeated three other major title winners: the third-seeded Rybakina, ninth-ranked Kvitova, and Bianca Andreescu.
“I want to ensure that my journey is worthwhile,” expressed Jabeur, emphasizing her determination to make her efforts count.
By triumphing on Thursday and securing 10 of the last 13 games, Jabeur prevented Sabalenka from claiming the top spot in the rankings, which would have seen her surpass Swiatek.
Reflecting on her performance, Sabalenka, a 25-year-old from Belarus who was unable to participate in Wimbledon the previous year due to a ban on players from her country and Russia amid the Ukraine conflict, acknowledged missed opportunities. She admitted that she did not play her best tennis, attributing it to a combination of nerves and moments of luck for Jabeur.
Jabeur found herself trailing 4-2 in the second set before mounting a comeback. However, just as she was on the verge of falling behind 5-3, she managed to break Sabalenka’s serve and turn the tide. A backhand return winner that forced the match into a third set prompted Jabeur to raise her right index finger to her ear, wagging it with confidence as she made her way to the changeover, signifying her determination and momentum.
Sabalenka struggled with her accuracy, repeatedly missing her shots. She committed a significantly higher number of unforced errors compared to Jabeur, with a margin of 14-5 in the last set and 45-15 for the entire match.
“I was a little bit emotionally down, while she was on the rise,” admitted Sabalenka, who managed to hit 10 aces but also double-faulted five times.
With a break putting Jabeur ahead 4-2 in the third set, there was still some work to be done. Sabalenka, known for her powerful ball-striking, fought hard and erased four match points before Jabeur finally sealed the victory on her fifth attempt with a 103 mph ace.
In the first semifinal, Vondrousova, ranked 43rd, showcased her prowess by winning seven consecutive games against Svitolina, who is currently ranked 76th. Svitolina, who recently returned from maternity leave just three months ago, had surprised many by defeating Swiatek in the quarterfinals. She had hoped to become the first Ukrainian woman to reach the final of a major tennis tournament.
Svitolina received enthusiastic support from the crowd in the main stadium, with thousands of spectators, including Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain, cheering her on from the Royal Box, creating a lively atmosphere with applause and shouts reverberating under the closed roof.
Svitolina revealed that she now plays with a calmer mindset, attributing it to the dual motivation of playing for her baby daughter, born in October, and representing her home country, which has been embroiled in an ongoing war since February 2022 when Russia invaded with the assistance of Belarus.
“It’s a significant responsibility, and there’s a lot of tension involved. I try my best to maintain a balance, although sometimes it becomes overwhelming,” Svitolina remarked. “However, I don’t want to use it as an excuse.”
Vondrousova, on the other hand, had to endure a six-month absence from the tour last season due to two surgeries on her left wrist. During that time, she visited England, wearing a cast on her arm, not as a participant but as a tourist, enjoying the sights of London and supporting her best friend and doubles partner, Miriam Kolodziejova, in her quest to qualify for Wimbledon.
“It’s not always easy to make a comeback. You’re unsure if you can perform at the same level and compete in these prestigious tournaments,” Vondrousova shared. “I’m simply grateful to be back on the court, playing without pain.”