Wimbledon
Four-way battle for two places in the final: is there an explosive final?
Jelina Switolina celebrates after her victory. photo
© Zac Goodwin/PA/AP/dpa
It’s semi-final day at Wimbledon. After being number one in the world and the defending champion, everything is open. An explosive finale is also possible.
The fact that there will be a new Wimbledon champion has been clear since the end of defending champion Jelena Rybakina. But who makes it in Final on Saturday? An overview of the semi-finalists fighting for a place in the final today.
Yelena Switolina (28/Ukraine): The Ukrainian has become a fan favorite at Wimbledon. After each game, Svitolina emphasizes how much she dedicates these victories to her compatriots suffering from the Russian war of aggression. Successes for them are also successes for Ukraine. The 28-year-old has improved from game to game and impresses with her power tennis. The world number one, Iga Swiatek, recently felt this.
Marketa Vondrousova (24 / Czech Republic): So far, the Czech had never made it past the second round at Wimbledon. But this year things are going well for the French Open finalist. Vondrousova played a little under the radar in the early rounds. But since the spectacular victory in the quarter-finals against Jessica Pegula, fourth in the world rankings, the focus has been on the Czech. “It will be a damn difficult task,” said Switolina.
Ons Jabeur (28/Tunisia): Jabeur was in the final at Wimbledon last year. The emotional Tunisian is the hope of an entire continent and an entire region. In Africa and the Arab world, fans are cheering for Jabeur. Her way to the semifinals was tough. Bianca Andreescu, Petra Kvitova and then defending champion Jelena Rybakina – it could hardly have been harder for last year’s US Open finalist.
Aryna Sabalenka (25/Belarus): The second in the world rankings is the player of the year so far. The Belarusian has already celebrated 40 victories in 2023. After the controversy surrounding her unusual press conferences at the French Open, Sabalenka is more self-conscious again in Wimbledon. The Australian Open winner has only given one sentence in London so far. But against Jabeur, the biggest test so far awaits Sabalenka. If she and Switolina win in the semifinals, there will be an explosive duel for the title.