LONDON | A year after a heartbreaking setback in‘last game of the two weeksTunisia’s Ons Jabeur is back in the Wimbledon final thanks to an irresistible comeback against tournament runner-up Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
After falling 4-2 in the second set against Sabalenka, the sixth-seeded side persevered and managed to counter the Australian Open winners’ might to triumph 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3.
Canadian Bianca Andreescu has her sights set on the surprising Czech Marketa Vondrousova, world number 42, in a tight duel in the third round on Saturday. Who stopped this?‘Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina earlier in the day.
An irresistible chance to forget the time when she was the victim of a comeback from her opponent – Kazakh Elena Rybakina, who she defeated in the quarterfinals this year – in a final on the London turf she stands on It’s still not possible to view the entire images.
“A year ago, even six months ago, I might have lost that game [contre Sabalenka]the likeable 28-year-old player, nicknamed the “Minister of Happiness” in her country, said at a press conference. […] But I’m a different player now. I’m working on myself like crazy, you have no idea.”
Private in the first row
Jabeur’s triumph also deprives Sabalenka of a chance to climb to the top of the women’s tennis chessboard, where Polish Iga Swiatek currently sits.
Aryna Sabalenka. Photo: AFP
It also avoids the possibility of a malaise at the center of the All England Club on Saturday, where the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, a year after the athletes from Russia and Belarus should have presented the champions’ trophy to a Belarusian due to the invasion of both countries banned from Wimbledon in Ukraine.
for revenge
But it could also allow Jabeur, who was also a finalist at last year’s US Open, to become the first African to win a major title.
So Jabeur. Photo: AFP
But beware: it will be the third game between Vondrousova and the former world No. 2 this season and each time the Czech has prevailed.
“I will take my revenge,” said the Tunisian. I didn’t beat her this year. […] But we’re both hungry to win. Whoever wants more will win.”
Revenge on Vondrousova… and on the Jabeur she was in the Wimbledon final a year ago.