Wimbledon 2023 | Ons Jabeur finds the final by overthrowing Aryna Sabalenka (6-7, 6-4, 6-3)

Like last year, Ons Jabeur will be present in the final at Wimbledon! In her semi-final against the powerful Aryna Sabalenka, the number six seed managed to reverse the dynamics in this meeting after a long suspense of 2h19 (6-7, 6-4, 6-3). Led one set to nothing and 4-2 in the second set, the Tunisian found the necessary resources to win. On Saturday, Jabeur will have the opportunity to win her first Grand Slam tournament against Marketa Vondrousova.

Qualified for the last four Grand Slam semi-finals on the WTA circuit, Aryna Sabalenka is gradually approaching the status of world number one. If successful on the center court of the All England Tennis Club today, the Belarusian could also have stolen the throne from Iga Swiatek. This will not be the case. As in his semi-final at Roland-Garros this year, the number two seed held his match in hand before losing the thread and letting slip his place in the final of a Grand Slam tournament. Like Karolina Muchova at the French Open, Ons Jabeur took advantage of Sabalenka’s slowdown to throw up her arms after a final ace. But before that, the battle was long.

Under pressure, Jabeur did not abdicate

From the first set, the two tenniswomen fought a long-distance duel on serve. By saving a first break point in the game, Jabeur stayed in the wake of her rival before getting a break point in the third game of the set, then two others in the fifth. Authoritarian at the time of engaging the exchange, the two waitresses were decided in a tie-break with a knife, finally won 7 points to 5 by the world number two (7-6).

Not rewarded for her efforts by finding herself led a set to nothing, Jabeur took the hit to return to battle. But at 2-2 service to follow, the finalist of the last US Open suffered an opposing shutout. Sovereign, Sabalenka confirmed her break in advance to take the psychological advantage. The Australian Open defending champion got two bullets to lead 5-3 but Jabeur eventually found the mental strength to come back at 4-4. In the next game, Sabalenka had the chance to break again at 30-40, but Jabeur held on to go ahead… and break again, to equalize at one set everywhere under the encouragement of center court (6 -4).

With five games won in a row, Jabeur returned to the game like a rocket. Opposite, Sabalenka did what she could to delay the deadline, but her service games became more and more complicated to ensure. Winning shots gradually turned into unforced errors as Jabeur put almost every ball back into the court. Pushed by the public won over to her cause, the Tunisian made the break to lead 5-2. A warrior, Sabalenka saved four match points before giving in on the fifth attempt (6-3). Favorite against Vondrousova in the final, Jabeur now has a date with history.