Earlier this year, Ons Jabeur, the Tunisian tennis player who blazed a trail to her first grand slam final, rewatched the Netflix documentary Break Point that chronicled her journey. As she and her husband, Karim, watched, they both shed tears, still feeling the emotions from that incredible fortnight. Jabeur vowed to return and win it all, and now she has fulfilled that promise by reaching the Wimbledon final once again. She showed immense grit and self-belief, coming back from a set and 2-4 down to defeat the world No 2, Aryna Sabalenka, with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3. This will be Jabeur’s third grand slam final in the last five events, and she will face Marketa Vondrousova in Saturday’s final.
Jabeur expressed her pride in herself for not giving up and pushing through to win the match. In the past, she might have lost and gone home, but she dug deep and found the strength to keep fighting. Sabalenka, on the other hand, missed her chance to become the new world No 1 and suffered another grand slam semi-final collapse. She expressed her determination to keep working and become mentally tougher in future semi-finals.
Last year, Jabeur had an easier path to the Wimbledon final, but this year, she faced a tough draw with three title contenders in her way. However, she continued to play beautifully, attacking her opponents and making Sabalenka uncomfortable throughout the match. Although Sabalenka fought back and took a 4-2 lead in the second set, Jabeur’s determination never wavered. She imposed herself with her forehand and capitalized on Sabalenka’s errors to win the second set and force a third.
Jabeur’s journey to the final hasn’t been easy, with injuries and setbacks along the way. However, her success has been the result of gradual growth and consistent improvement over the years. She believes that the injuries have taught her patience and the ability to accept what comes her way. Despite her past grand slam finals, Jabeur has never played as well as she has in the past 11 days. Her mental strength and fighting spirit have taken her transcendent talents to new levels, making her the favorite to win her first grand slam title. She is determined to make her path worth it and hopes that this time, it will all work out.
