Ons Jabeur reached the Wimbledon final for the second time in a row following her epic 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3 victory over Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals on Thursday.
The Tunisian faced Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals in a rematch of last year’s final she lost but this time triumphed in three sets.
Thursday’s semi-final with Sabalenka was an intense battle with Jabeur having two break points in the fifth game which Sabalenka saved. Both players held serve and Sabalenka prevailed 7-5 in the tiebreak.
The second set seemed not to go Jabeur’s way as she was broken in the fifth game. She however responded back in the eighth and 10th games to take the set.
The third and final set remained very fierce with both players holding serve like the first set but Jabeur had the edge in the sixth game, winning with her third break point.
ONS-TOPPABLE ????????@Ons_Jabeur produces a stunning comeback against No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka to reach the ladies’ final, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 ????#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/cFSnkIn55Y
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2023
Jabeur had the chance to win it in the eighth game with two break points but Sabalenka saved both to stay alive in the match. Jabeur had a bit of a wobble in the ninth game but maintained her composure to win the set with her third match point.
It is the Sousse native’s third Grand Slam final appearance in her last five majors. She is also the first player since Serena Williams to beat three top 10 opponents at Wimbledon, first beating Czech ninth seed Petra Kvitova in the fourth round before seeing off Rybakina and Sabalenka.
The 2023 Ladies' Singles final is set.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Gu3lgPUtn1
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2023
Jabeur will face Marketa Vondrousova in Saturday’s final after the Czech star claimed a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the other semi-final.
