WIMBLEDON, England — Between Nick Kyrgios’ show and Rafael Nadal’s retirement from the tournament, there have been many headlines in the men’s part of the Wimbledon draw. Unfortunately, it has probably obscured two rich stories by women.
For the first time since 1962, two women making their first appearance in a Grand Slam final will face off, the result of another draw that has not been held.
No. 3 Ons Jabeur and No. 17 Elena Rybakina have summoned their best tennis and brought rich and compelling background stories to Saturday’s women’s singles final. They feature a contrast of styles that we like to see in athletes on their biggest stage.
These players are not a name on the tour. And so much pain that women’s play sometimes has for this parity, especially in the face of the constant excellence of the Big Three, it’s easy to see this confrontation as a virtue.
Ons Jabeur will play his first Grand Slam singles final.
Kirsty Wigglesworth / Associated Press
A few months ago, Jabeur entered the French Open as an early favorite, only to lose to Magda Linette in the first round. He later called it a disguised blessing, one that has helped him during the grass court season, especially here at Wimbledon. Jabeur, the first Arab and African woman to reach this stage of a Slam, plays ingenious tennis, almost using her racquet as a wand and preferring sharp angles and power drop shots.
Jabeur, 27, became a big favorite after Iga Swiatek was sent off in the third round and has made that prediction well. He has closed tight matches and has only lost two sets during the fortnight. He has also won the press conference sessions. When asked earlier this week about Boris Johnson’s resignation as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he said: “I really don’t know, but I’m the Minister of Happiness.” It will be considered one of the greatest dates of all time.
If Jabeur wins, it’s hard to see her as a one-time marvel, and her personal story will resonate beyond sports.
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“I want to be bigger, inspire many more generations,” Jabeur told reporters this week. “Tunisia is connected to the Arab world, it is connected to the African continent. … I want to see more players from my country, the Middle East, Africa. “
Rybakina beat former Wimbledon champion Simona Halep in the semifinals to advance.
Kirsty Wigglesworth / Associated Press
On the other side of the net is 23-year-old Rybakina, who is all power on the track. With great service and half a foot taller than Jabeur, he is the leading ace in the WTA Tour so far this year. Off the track, it’s much harder to get to know her, largely because of nationality issues. Born in Moscow, she still trains and lives there. However, four years ago, he received funding from the Kazakhstan federation and changed his nationality. It’s hard to distrust her decision, but it complicates things when there are Russian players who are banned from this tournament because of their country’s continued conflict in Ukraine.
The idea that a Russian player in every aspect except for his passport could lift the trophy here has been, to say the least, a complication for this event. For her part, Rybakina has been very diplomatic on the issue, postponing any questions to seek more clarity about her nationality and loyalties.
“I’m sorry for the players who couldn’t come here,” Rybakina said recently, “but I’m just enjoying playing here on the biggest stage, enjoying my time and trying to do my best.”
Prediction
Eventually, this will come down to managing the momentum, rather than X and Os, at a time of career change for both players. It will be Jabeur in three sets, a starting point for greater greatness.
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