LONDON: OnsJabeur, the Tunisian world number two, was denied the opportunity to make African tennis history when Russian-born Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to win Wimbledon on Saturday. Jabeur had the upper hand at the outset of the match, but Kazakhstan’s 17th seed recovered and lost just four more games to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. The winner declared, “I’ve never felt anything like this before.
“Congratulations Ons for all you have accomplished. You serve as an example for everyone, not just Tunisians. You excelled in the game. In the third game of the match, when Rybakina’s backhand went long, 27-year-old Jabeur broke him. She then gave him a delicious backhand hold to make him feel loved.
Rybakina was put under a lot of pressure on her own serve once more as the set nearly got away from her, but she persevered to hold for a 3-2 victory. But in the first set, she was unable to convert a single break point on the sun-baked Centre Court, and Jabeur won the set thanks to an error-filled service game.
Jabeur gave a fist pump in jubilation, and Rybakina went back to her seat to reflect on her costly 17 unforced errors. But as soon as the second set got underway, Rybakina broke Jabeur and held on to take a 2-0 lead. Jabeur had to work hard to maintain contact as Rybakina had now established her rhythm. The 6-foot-1, 1.84-meter tall Kazakh player, who is 23 years old, then resisted three break points.
In the final, the 17th seed was the first to score, breaking right away to put Jabeur under pressure. In frustration, the Tunisian lost three break points in the sixth game, which ended up being her final opportunity. In serving out for the set, Rybakina displayed some nervousness, but she ultimately won with her first championship point when Jabeur’s backhand went long.
In 2018, Rybakina, who was competing in her first Slam final, shifted her allegiance to Kazakhstan. Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian athletes this year due to the invasion of Ukraine. Before this year’s Wimbledon, Rybakina had never advanced past the quarterfinals of a Slam. Jabeur congratulated the victor and said, “Hopefully, it will be mine next time.” ”Thanks to my team for support and believing in me,” she said.
