Ons Jabeur is set to face off against Elena Rybakina once again, this time in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. Jabeur, the Tunisian player, will have to defeat the defending champion if she wants a chance to win her first Grand Slam tournament. In the fourth round, Jabeur dominated two-time champion Petra Kvitova with a score of 6-0, 6-3 at the All England Club.
“I’m probably going for my revenge,” Jabeur declared on court. Reflecting on their difficult final last year, Jabeur expressed that it will bring back a lot of memories. Jabeur came close to winning a major tennis tournament in the sport’s professional era last year, but fell short in both the Wimbledon final against Rybakina and the U.S. Open final against Iga Swiatek.
The Wimbledon loss to Rybakina left a lasting impression on Jabeur, particularly because she felt emotionally exhausted during the match. Jabeur also acknowledged that she should have stuck to her coach’s plan more. As the rematch approaches, Jabeur aims to play more freely and focus on each point rather than the outcome.
During her match on Centre Court, Jabeur showcased her skills by executing a half-volley kick on a bouncing ball, reminiscent of David Beckham’s techniques. The ninth-seeded Kvitova struggled from the start, committing unforced errors and a double-fault, which gave Jabeur an early advantage.
Rybakina secured her spot in the quarterfinals when Beatriz Haddad Maia retired from their match due to a lower back injury. Rybakina was leading 4-1 at the time.
Looking ahead to the next match, Rybakina expressed feeling much better and more confident playing on Centre Court. She attributed her improved mental and physical state to getting used to the grass and gaining more experience in the tournament.
In other women’s results, Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova with a score of 6-4, 6-0. Sabalenka will next face Madison Keys, the 25th seed, who defeated 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva in a thrilling three-set match.
On Tuesday, Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked player, will take on Elina Svitolina on Centre Court for a chance to secure a spot in the semifinals. Additionally, Jessica Pegula, the fourth seed, will face Marketa Vondrousova in the other women’s quarterfinal match of the day.
