When Ons Jabeur sealed the starting point that made her the first Arab to reach a grand slam final at Wimbledon, all she could think of was to get close to her barbecue friend beaten on the net by give a hug to Tatjana Maria.
Key points:
- Elena Rybakina is the youngest female finalist at Wimbledon since 2017
- Rybakina beat 2019 champion Simona Halep in consecutive sets
- Ons Jabeur also made it to the finals and is looking to be the first African-Arab woman of the professional era to win an individual Grand Slam title.
As Jabeur coach Issam Jellali stood up with his arms raised to join the 15,000 cheering fans to greet the first African woman to win the title match, Jabeur simply smiled as he finished the remarkable streak of Maria with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory.
On the eve of the contest, Jabeur had promised that “the hug at the end will be amazing” and he wasn’t wrong.
The two players stayed through the net for what seemed like an eternity, with the two whispering in their ears.
With spirits still resonating in the center of the track, Jabeur took Maria to his side of the track and joined in the applause to greet a 34-year-old girl who had become the first mother of two in a semifinal. of Wimbledon from Margaret Court in 1975..
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“I don’t know what to say. It’s a dream come true after years of hard work and sacrifice,” Jabeur said as he prepared for a final against fellow first-time runner-up Elena Rybakina, who defeated 2019 champion Simona Halep by 6 -3. 6-3.
He then paid tribute to Mary, the great piece of which, sometimes from both sides, had tricked her opponents as she made an incredible race to kill giants by drawing women.
“It was harder to run for his balls. Now he has to make me a barbecue for the whole race I did on the track,” Jabeur said.
“I wanted to share the moment with her in the end because it’s an inspiration to so many people, including me, coming back after having two kids, I can’t believe how she did it.
“Physically Tatjana is a beast, she doesn’t give up.”
While Jabeur’s victory included a great moment of sportsmanship and friendship in the end, his victory means even more to a generation that Jabeur is actively trying to inspire.
Before the players arrived on the court, the great American Billie Jean King said that Jabeur was “using tennis as a platform to help Tunisia, help Africa and help the Arabs” and the Tunisian did exactly that when she won. to Maria for the first time on a main Tour. level match.
“I am a proud Tunisian woman who is here today. I know that in Tunisia they are going crazy right now,” said the third series leader who until this week had never gone beyond the round of 16 of a major.
“I just try to inspire as much as I can, I want to see more Arab and African players on tour, I love the game and I want to share the experience with them.
“I saw some juniors playing out there and I hope to see them here on the center court someday.”
While Jabeur, 27, wanted to inspire a continent, Maria wants to show her two little daughters that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
The Australian Grand Court was among those watching from the Royal Box when Maria was forced to save three break points in the first match.
The German number 103 could not prolong this resistance, as he dropped the service in the third and seventh game before Jabeur sealed the first set when Maria made a long setback.
However, Maria refused to deliver the victory on a plate to a rival she calls “family,” as she broke 3-1 in the second and maintained that lead to tie when the third seed cut a setback. on the Net.
But Jabeur finally lived up to his world number two turnover to flee with the third set and reached the most important point of his career so far when Maria passed a right-footed shot into the net.
Rybakina rolls Halep with ease
Elena Rybakina is looking to become Kazakhstan’s first individual Grand Slam champion. (Reuters: Toby Melville)
In the final, Jabeur will face Kazakh Rybakina, who is also the first player in her nation to make an individual Grand Slam final.
A day after dominating Australian Ajla Tomljanovic at the end of her quarter-finals, Rybakina did the same with 2019 Wimbledon champion Halep with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Rybakina, who has only lost one set this tournament, against Tomlajnovic, gave Halep few chances throughout the match, he only broke once, early in the second set.
It was Rybakina’s service that hurt the most throughout the match, while Halep’s own service hurt her as well.
A litany of double fouls has given Rybakina chances at key moments, which he has taken advantage of.
Rybakina said the result and his high level in the match could not be believed.
“I’m very happy with my performance because I think I played very solid today,” Rybakina said.
“I usually have ups and downs, but today I think I was mentally prepared and it’s been an amazing match.”
Reuters / ABC