At various points in a convincing semifinal, it was hard not to feel a little sorry for Aryna Sabalenka.
After all, having the entire audience against you can’t be a good thing. When the Belarusian served to save the first match point, she had to stop because the push was too strong for her opponent.
But this was the result that the spectators wanted, and although they would never admit it, it was what Wimbledon and the All England Tennis Club wanted. The Princess of Wales will not have to serve a plate of Venus Rosewater to someone whose country supports Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine.
However, the biggest bonus is that the compelling talent and artistry of one of tennis’ most-watched players is back in the Wimbledon final. And Ons Jabeur is also one of the most beloved characters in the game. But with happiness (in Tunisia, they’re known as ministers of happiness), things get serious, and at least one extra layer has been added since last year’s final loss to Tunisia’s Elena Rybakina.
What does Ons Jabeur say?
Against world number two Sabalenka, Jabeur struggled severely, dropping a set and breaking, threatening to lose the semifinals when she trailed 2-4 in the second. But she kept her cool and controlled her emotions, regrouped, and won four straight games to take the deciding set.
I’ve been working a lot with my mental coach on this,” Jabeur said. “I’m probably writing a book about it! I am very proud of myself. Because maybe I would have lost this match today earlier and come home earlier. I am gaining strength.”
“I have worked very hard to win this match, and I hope to win this tournament.” After fighting hard to win the second set, Jabeur was consistently in command of the third, and Sabalenka won 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 after saving three match points.
Moreover, having also lost in the 2022 US Open final, the 28-year-old Jabeur will be seeking her first Grand Slam title and will be her favorite against the unseeded Marketa Vondrousova. But Jabeur has good reasons not to be too confident; she said, “Marketa is a great player; she’s already lost to her twice this year. she thinks her revenge is working. I hope the public is here. They were great today; they kept me in the game.”
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Sabalenka, who missed out on the chance to top the world rankings, said: “I knew the crowd would be more supportive of her, and I don’t have a problem with that. What can I do about it? I am very upset about not winning. It’s hard to accept.”
Moreover, it’s another chance for Jabeur to become the first woman from her continent to win a Grand Slam. She said: “Hopefully, I can make history for Tunisia and all of Africa. I’m doing my best for this.”
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