Ons Jabeur avenged her defeat in last year’s Wimbledon final on Wednesday, rallying from behind to beat Elena Rybakina and secure a spot in the semifinals.
In a rematch of the 2022 title match, the Tunisian sixth seed triumphed over her third-ranked opponent with a score of 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-1 on Centre Court.
The 28-year-old will now face Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian second seed, in a highly anticipated match that will determine who advances to the final at the All England Club on Saturday.
Expressing her satisfaction with the performance, Jabeur remarked on the emotional rollercoaster of the match, particularly against an opponent with a powerful serve.
Despite the challenges of returning, she expressed gratitude for maintaining focus and composure throughout the game, hoping to sustain this emotional control in the upcoming matches.
Rybakina seized an early advantage by breaking Jabeur’s serve to love in the fourth game. However, the Tunisian swiftly retaliated, breaking back to level the score at 6-5. Nevertheless, she failed to capitalize on her advantage, allowing Rybakina to force a tie-break and claim the first set.
In the second set, Jabeur saved break points in the second game while maintaining a narrow lead of 3-2 on her serve. Both players held their serves until the 10th game, when Rybakina faltered, enabling Jabeur to level the match.
The momentum shifted in Jabeur’s favour in the deciding set as she raced to a commanding 3-0 lead. Despite facing two break points, she held her ground and extended her lead to 4-1. Jabeur sealed the victory by breaking Rybakina once again and confidently holding her serve, celebrating the win with a roar of delight.
