Ons Jabeur reached her second Wimbledon final with a 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3 victory over Aryna Sabalenka. Despite losing the opening set, Jabeur’s delicate strokeplay and clever angles subdued Sabalenka’s relentless power. Jabeur will face Marketa Vondrousova in the final.
Jabeur, who was the runner-up in last year’s final and also finished as the runner-up at the U.S. Open, showed mental toughness by not giving up despite missing four match points. She expressed her pride in herself for digging deep and finding the strength to win the match.
Jabeur has shown real steel in this year’s Wimbledon, becoming the first woman since Serena Williams in 2012 to defeat three top-10 opponents. She is bidding to become the first African woman and first Arab to win a major.
Sabalenka, who missed last year’s tournament due to Wimbledon’s ban on Russian and Belarusian players, was a tough opponent. She had a strong Grand Slam record, winning the Australian Open and reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros.
The opening set was tight, with both players having break point opportunities. It eventually went into a tiebreak, which Sabalenka won. However, Jabeur fought back in the second set, earning a break point and leveling the contest.
In the third set, Jabeur took control and earned match points on Sabalenka’s serve. Sabalenka saved the first with an ace and the second with a long return from Jabeur. But Jabeur eventually sealed the victory with an ace.
Overall, Jabeur’s wily artistry and mental toughness helped her overcome Sabalenka’s brutal hitting and secure a spot in the Wimbledon final.
