Ons Jabeur surged into her third career Grand Slam final at Wimbledon on Thursday, rallying from a set down to defeat No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 .
"I'm glad that I stayed in the match, was playing better and better after," Jabeur said in press. "Hopefully now one more match to go."
The former world No. 2 reached back-to-back major finals in 2022, but struggled with injuries for much of the first half of this season before coming to life on grass, avenging last year’s final defeat to Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals and rallying from a set and a break down to defeat Sabalenka on Centre Court.
"I think this year the draw is much tougher," said Jabeur, who also scored wins over Bianca Andreescu and Petra Kvitova en route. "Playing against amazing players that not only they play good on any surface, but they play amazing on grass. That was very challenging.
"Also maybe it's a good thing, that gives me more confidence to be ready for the final. Also getting that rhythm of playing great tennis to be ready for the next match."
Into her fourth straight Grand Slam semifinal, Sabalenka was aiming to become the 29th woman to top the WTA rankings, needing to reach the final to usurp Iga Swiatek after the top seed exited in the quarterfinals to Elina Svitolina.
Though Jabeur came into the match having lost her last three meetings with Sabalenka, the former No. 2 came in with a clear game plan that had the Belarusian rattled early as she took time away from her big-hitting opposition to keep her off balance.
Sabalenka gamely stayed in front even as Jabeur continued applying pressure with her return, and dug out of a tiebreaker that saw her trailing 2-4 at the change of ends. After reclaiming the mini-break, a crucial Hawkeye challenge ultimately flipped the Sudden Death in Sabalenka’s favor as she clinched the set on her second opportunity.
Things remained close through the first four games of the second, but Sabalenka drew enough ill-timed shots from the two-time Grand Slam finalist to eventually score the first break of the match and find herself two games from the final.
Jabeur rallied in style from there, reeling off the next five games to secure a deciding set, holding Sabalenka off when she had points for 5-3 and 5-4. Emerging victorious from a titanic sixth game with a break in hand, Jabeur raced to the finish line much as she did against Rybakina on Wednesday, earning match point as Sabalenka served to stay in the contest.
Though Sabalenka saved four match points, the rhythm that took her to a set and 4-2 was gone and Jabeur edged over the finish line on her fifth opportunity. Sabalenka falls to 1-5 in Grand Slam semifinals, her lone win coming in Melbourne against Magda Linette where she went on to win the title.
Awaiting her in the final is 2019 Roland Garros runner-up Marketa Vondrousova, who withstood a late charge from Elina Svitolina to reach her second major final.
