She will have made us dream for two weeks, but he will have missed this bit of luck to be sacred queen of Wimbledon. Ons Jabeur failed in the last meters but may be proud of his career …
Ons Jabeur, seeded n ° 3 and world number 2 (until yesterday), was the logical favorite of the Wimbledon final with its new status as a first Tunisian, Arab and African woman to reach a Grand Chelem final. A status that may have been too heavy to wear!
Faced with the Kazakhe Elena Rybakina (23rd in the world), she had huge advantages: technique, experience, ambition and also the confidence of a player who has not lost a match on this surface in 12 months.
Ons Jabeur had to admit defeated in the face of a much more powerful and skillful opponent than. A defeat in three sets (6-3, 2-6, 2-6) which she could have transformed into a victory.
However, our champion had started her match well by winning the first set showing a high -level game. Everything succeeded in him in front of an outdated opponent, overwhelmed or even muffled.
In this first set, Ons Jabeur impressed both by his technique and by his attack game. In the opposite camp, Elena Rybakina no longer knew what to expect.
Febrile in defense, awkward in attack, Elena Rybakina seemed lost throughout the first set. His assets – his service and his forehand – made him lack. Because Rybakina was, by far, the most powerful player that Jabeur faces the whole tournament.
Ons Jabeur collapses!
The Ons Jabeur machine was launched after the first set won. And while we expected the Tunisian to pushed the nail it was the kazakhe who was more enterprising.
At the same time, a pale copy of Ons Jabeur was trying to intervene at Elena Rybakina. Multiplying direct faults and sometimes falling into ease, ons Jabeur left the second set to his opponent, much more determined.
In the decisive third set, we expected a reaction from the Tunisian, but ons Jabeur, more and more annoyed missed everything she attempted. She was confused in attack and overwhelmed in defense against an opponent with overpowered services and implacable backhands.
In this last set, the Tunisian had a hint of hope by returning to 2-3, but she was immediately “dropped” again to bow 2-6.
Wimbledon, new start!
For four years, Ons Jabeur has established records for his country and his region as his 22 victories in his last 25 matches. Before Ons Jabeur, let us recall that the only Tunisian to have reached the top 100 of the WTA ranking was Selima Sfar, who culminated in 75th place in July 2001.
Let us also remember that let us have become the first player of his country to reach a WTA final in Moscow 2018; To play a quarter -final of the Grand Slam at the Australian Open 2020 and to unravel the top 50 a month later; To win a WTA title in Birmingham 2021, paving the way at the start in the top 10 in October of last year.
This season has started on a negative note for Ons Jabeur when she was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to a back injury. But since her return in February, she has continued to strengthen herself with five finals played and especially two titles, in Madrid on clay and Berlin on lawn.
Ons Jabeur also made a way in the WTA ranking when in December 2020, she was still in 31st position. Classified beyond 200th place (251st) in 2012, the Tunisian joined the Top 100 in 2017, the Top 50 in 2020 and the Top 10 in 2021…
“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, who has never stopped supporting our champion.
The best remains to come for our champion who has the habit of not giving up and especially knowing how to get up after each defeat!
Ons Jabeur’s journey
* Final: Elena Rybakina-Ons Jabeur 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
* Semi-final: Ons Jabeur-Tatjana Maria 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
* Quarter-final: Ons Jabeur-Marie Bouzkova 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
* 4th round: Ons Jabeur-Elise Mertens 7-6, 6-4
* 3rd round: Ons Jabeur-Diane Parry 6-2, 6-3
* 2nd round: Ons Jabeur-Katarzyna Kawa 6-4, 6-0
* 1st round: Ons Jabeur-Mirjam Bjorklund 6-1, 6-3
