On Saturday, Ons Jabeur is determined to make it third time lucky as she strives to become the first African or Arab woman to secure a Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon.
The 28-year-old Tunisian is set to face off against Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic, aiming to surpass her previous performances. Last year, she fell short in the final against Elena Rybakina at the All England Club and later suffered a defeat to world number one Iga Swiatek at the US Open.
Unlike her previous experiences in the major finals, Jabeur, currently ranked sixth in the world, enters as the favorite against left-handed Vondrousova. Notably, Vondrousova has defied the odds to become the first unseeded woman in the Wimbledon final in 60 years.
Jabeur’s journey to the championship match has been challenging, triumphing over two-time former champion Petra Kvitova in the round of 16, third seed Rybakina in the quarterfinals, and rallying from a set down to eliminate second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.
Her remarkable achievement of defeating three top-10 players at Wimbledon, a feat not accomplished since Serena Williams in 2012, underscores Jabeur’s formidable skills. Nevertheless, she remains focused and acknowledges the importance of staying alert, despite facing a player ranked 42nd in the world on Saturday.
“I think a final is a final,” Jabeur said. “You’re playing someone, Grand Slam champion or not. I think it’s going to be very difficult.
“It can happen for both. Whoever could handle more emotions, whoever could be more ready on the court, will definitely win that match.
“I want to make my path worth it by winning against all these Grand Slam champions to be in the final. Yeah, I’m going full in, and hopefully this time it will work.”
“I’m going for my revenge. I didn’t win against her this year. She has good hands. She plays very well”. Regarding her opponent, Jabeur commented on Vondrousova, who is participating in her second Grand Slam final after being the runner-up at the 2019 French Open.
Vondrousova’s remarkable showing at Wimbledon has earned her a place back in the top 20 rankings next week. Unfortunately, her progress was hindered by an injury that kept her from competing in the 2022 tournament, while a friend of hers tried to qualify for the main draw.
Vondrousova had to go through a second wrist surgery, which meant she had to take a break from the tour for six months. This gave her the chance to focus on her personal life, as she got married during that time.
