At 28, Jabeur, who has lost twice in the final of a Major (Wimbledon and US Open 2022), will try to win her first Grand Slam title on Saturday against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (42nd), also in search of a first title at this level.
“I have no words… Thank you to the public who kept me in the match”, launched Jabeur as his very first words after his snatch victory against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (2nd) 6-7 ( 5/7), 6-4, 6-3. “Accepting his serves and power shots was very difficult, so thank you for believing in me and supporting me all the way,” she added.
“The old me would have lost this game”
“I’m very proud of myself because the old me would have lost this match and I would already be on my way home, but I found the strength to fight,” she added, explaining pulling the strings. fruits of his psychological work. “I learn to transform negative energy, like frustration, into positive energy. I knew how to go deep inside me to win this match … and, who knows, the tournament, ”she said with a smile.
Jabeur had won the first duel of their career against Sabalenka, at Roland-Garros in 2020, but the Belarusian had won the next three, including that at Wimbledon in 2021. This defeat deprived them of a new major final, after that won in January at the Australian Open, as well as the place of world No.1 that she would have won by qualifying for the final.
As for Jabeur, she becomes the first player to chain two Wimbledon finals since Serena Williams (2018-2019). Thursday, the powerful Belarusian made Jabeur run a lot, distributing the game with in particular her great forehands.
She seemed to impose her power (39 winning points including ten aces), but facing a very catchy opponent, the Belarusian made too many mistakes to win (45 unforced errors over the whole match, against 14 for Jabeur).
In the first set, Jabeur had only one break point to defend, against three for Sabalenka, but the two players arrived at the decisive game without the slightest break. The Belarusian offered himself two set points thanks to a big return which allowed him to break away 6/4. Jabeur saved the first, on his serve, but could not control his return on the next serve from Sabalenka who thus won the first set.
Sabalenka was going straight for it
In the second, the Belarusian seemed headed for an inescapable victory when they had back-to-back shutouts to pull away 4-2. However, Jabeur then lined up five games in a row to equalize at one set everywhere and start the race in the lead in the decisive round (1-0). Under a thunder of applause, his face had just changed and one could again read there the determination and the confidence.
The Tunisian scored the decisive break in the sixth game of the third set by taking advantage of two unforced errors in a row from Sabalenka. Sabalenka then saved two match points on her serve, then two more on Jabeur’s serve, but the fifth was good for the Tunisian who finished with an ace.