London Wimbledon Championships Day 11 1/07/2023 Ons Jabeur (TUN) wins semi final match Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Ons Jabeur denied Aryna Sabalenka a second Grand Slam final of the season as the Tunisian fought back on Thursday for a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 win into a second consecutive Wimbledon final.
Jabeur, seeded sixth, finished runner-up twice in 2022: she lost to Elena Rybakina here a year ago and went down to Iga Swiatek at the US Open.
Jabeur will take a negative record into the Saturday final against Marketa Vondrousova after the Czech defeated Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-3 in a 75-minute encounter.
“Marketa’a a great player, I’ve already lost twice to her this season,” Jabeur said.
“But hopefully I can take my revenge again (after beating Rybakina here in the quarter-finals.”
Jabeur needed six match points to get over the line against Sabalenka, claiming victory after nearly two and a half hours with her second ace.
The first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final when she did it here a year ago said she channelled her frustration after losing the opening set in a close tiebreaker.
“I’ve been working well with my mental coach,” she said. “The old me would have probably lost the match today
“But I was able to dig very deep and find the strength. I was able to transfer the bad energy from losing into a good one.”
Jabeur improved her record against Top 10 opponents to 5-7.
Doping sanction victim Simona Halep has gone online to protest her own treatment by anti-doping…
Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…
Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…
Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…
Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…
Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…