Wimbledon: Jabeur Beats Defending Champion Rybakina, Reaches Semis
Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur gained revenge for her defeat in last year’s Wimbledon final when she surged back from a set down to beat third-seeded defending champion Kazakh Elena Rybakina 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals.
There were two breaks apiece in an untidy first set before third seed Rybakina found her accuracy at the right time to come through the tiebreak.
The Tunisian said this week that it took her a long time to get over last year’s final defeat and needed extra effort to go past nemesis Rybakina.
However, Jabeur developed into the dominant player of the second set, cutting down the errors, scrambling in defence and breaking in the 10th to level the match.
With the crowd behind her, the 28-year-old Jabeur was bouncing around the court when she broke to love for a 2-0 lead. She held comfortably to make it five games in a row and sensed a sixth when she was 0-30 on Rybakina’s serve, only for the champion to save it.
Rybakina had two break points in the next game but this time it was Jabeur’s turn to show her mettle as she blasted four successive points to break her rival’s spirit. Rybakina’s could not find a way past the Tunisian and the Kazakh paid the price when Jabeur broke again for 5-1 and served out for a joyous victory.
Redemption.
In a reverse of last year’s final, @Ons_Jabeur defeats Elena Rybakina 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Y5aZtYLEne
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2023
“I wish we could exchange this match from the final last year,” Jabeur said. “I’m very happy with the performance. There was a lot of emotion out there, especially playing someone who serves really well.”
“It’s frustrating to return but I’m glad I did everything, shouted, got angry then got calm and focused. The first (set) should have gone my way. I honestly doubted a little bit. I kept yelling at my coach saying, ‘You told me to play like this and look what’s happening’.”
“Then I really tried to get back in the zone and believe this plan is the plan and kept going. I think I’m going to end up writing a book about my emotions because this is unbelievable. Hopefully I can keep managing my emotions like this for the next few matches,” she added.
A year ago Jabeur looked on course to become the first Arabic and African female champion before fading to lose in three sets. But the dream is still on in 2023 after the sixth seed mounted a spirited comeback having looked distraught after the first set tiebreak went against her.
Jabeur will play second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semis after the Belarusian beat American Madison Keys in straight sets earlier.
Only four remain.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/nKAE7GsmeP
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2023
