Ons Jabeur, seeded number 3 and world number 2, will face the Kazakhe Elena Rybakina, this Saturday, July 9, in the Wimbledon final. Who will leave with his first major title?
The world number. World Ons Jabeur and the n ° .23 Elena Rybakina enter unknown land. The two women are the first in their country to reach a Grand Slam final.
Ons Jabeur, the 27 -year -old Tunisian, has entered the history of the Arab and African world as the first woman in one or the other region to qualify for a final of the home. Her journey made the headlines in Tunisia and ignited social networks.
A pioneer role
“I want to go further, inspire many other generations,” said Ons Jabeur recently. “Tunisia is connected to the Arab world, is connected to the African continent. We want to see more players. It is not like Europe or any other country. I want to see more players from my country, the Middle East, Africa. ”
“I think we have not sufficiently believed that we could do it. Now, I’m just trying to show it. I hope people are inspired by it. »»
Ons Jabeur assumes his role as an example and wants to raise the trophy. His current confidence and his tennis as atypical as varied could allow him.
“I want to be world n ° 1”
“I know I have my place in the top 10, that’s what I try to achieve. (…) I would like to enter the top 10 or 15 before aiming beyond. I want to be n ° 1 in the world and winning great across ”.
This declaration dates from December 25, 2020, the day she signed a sponsorship contract with Tunisie Telecom, which supports Tenniswoman in her journey on the WTA circuit. What a path has traveled since that day …
Ons Jabeur vs Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina, 23, also traces a new road for tennis in Kazakhstan. She already beat Ons Jabeur in 2019 in Wuhan. But the Tunisian then took her revenge last year in Dubai. The two matches took place in three sets.
Their October 2021 semi-final in Chicago had not come to an end after the abandonment of Rybakina.
Rybakina says she met Jabeur for the first time in 2018 when they both played a WTA 125K in Chicago.
“I came for the first time with my father and I met her,” said Rybakina. “She was very kind to me” (…).
Why is Elena Rybakina a serious threat to Ons Jabeur? Its power, its ease on the grass and the fact that Jabeur will probably feel the pressure of being the number. 2 in the world and the favorite to win, are advantages for kazakhe.
It should be noted, however, that Rybakina that Rybakina lost his last four finals-Saint Petersburg, Dubai and Strasbourg in 2020 and earlier this year in Adélaïde.
The assets of Ons Jabeur
But, for his part ons Jabeur also has a lot of assets. What she crossed in her step by step career perfectly prepared her for her first grand finale.
The statistics and figures surrounding the pioneer of Jabeur are endless, and playing for a nation, a region and a continent can be intimidating. But this pressure also forges champions.
It is the world n ° .2, the highest ranking ever obtained for an Arab or African player. She is one of the favorites of fans and commentators.
It will undoubtedly be a difficult match. The weapon of jabeur is his racket, and Rybakina has the tools – in his service and his forehand – to remove this racket from the hands.
Rybakina will be by far the most powerful player that Jabeur will face the whole tournament. But unlike Rybakina, Jabeur can make quick adjustments and make his way through the problems that can arise during the match because she has a variety to have a plan B. She also has the confidence of a player who has not lost a match on this surface in 12 months.
Ons Jabeur’s journey
Ons Jabeur eliminated the German, Tatjana Maria (103rd in the world) in the semi-finals of Wimbledon by beating it in three sets (6-2, 3-6, 6-1) yesterday on the central court.
After easily winning his first match against Swedish Mirjam Björklund (125th) 6-1, 6-3, Ons Jabeur then eliminated Polish Katarzyna Kawa (132nd) 6-4.6-0.
Ons Jabeur did not tremble in his third match against French Diane Parry (77th in the world), which she knocked out in two sets (6-2, 6-3).
Her eighth finals against the Belgian Elise Mertens (31st in the world) was more disputed, but the Tunisian won again in two sets (7-6 (11-9), 6-4) after a breathtaking match.
Faced with the Czech Marie Bouzkova (66th in the WTA ranking), Ons Jabeur qualified in the semi-final following his victory in three sets (3-6, 6-1, 6-1).
