Ons Jabeur Wishes to Trade Revenge for Wimbledon Title

Ons Jabeur expressed her desire to exchange her revenge victory over Elena Rybakina at Wimbledon 2023 for a win in last year’s final against the Kazakh player.

Having suffered a defeat to Rybakina twelve months ago, Jabeur emerged triumphant this year with a hard-fought 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1 victory, securing her place in the semi-finals.

Recalling the painful memories of her loss in 2022, the Tunisian player admitted she had not watched the entire match, deeming it too agonizing. Instead, she relied on her coach to devise a new game plan.

“I chose not to watch the entire match as it would have been unbearable,” explained Jabeur, 28. “I’m grateful for my coach’s guidance and explanations. I’ve only watched a few points, not the entire match.”

In the upcoming semi-finals, Jabeur will face second seed and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday.

Jabeur, seeded sixth, revealed that even watching the Netflix tennis documentary “Break Point,” which covers her defeat to Rybakina, was painful for her.

In last year’s encounter, Jabeur had taken the first set but ultimately lost 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. However, this year she adopted a more aggressive style of play, which proved successful in securing her victory.

“When we stepped onto the court, I felt a sense of déjà vu from playing the same match against her,” Jabeur said. “I even chose the same seat [on court] as last year. Perhaps it was the seat that helped me win today.”

Before the match, Jabeur emphasized her commitment to sticking “100%” to the game plan, seeking to overcome the disappointment from the previous year.

Against a formidable opponent known for her powerful shots, Jabeur opted for a more offensive approach, hitting 35 winners compared to Rybakina’s 21.

“I decided to go for my shots because playing it safe against her wouldn’t work,” Jabeur explained. “It’s challenging to face her, but I wish we could exchange this match for last year’s final.”

Acknowledging Jabeur’s victory over Rybakina, nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova commented, “What can you say? Revenge is best served cold.”

Jabeur effectively neutralized Rybakina’s power, particularly her serve, leaving the Kazakh player unsure of how to respond. Navratilova praised Jabeur’s well-executed plan.

Seeking her first Grand Slam title, Jabeur has previously reached the Wimbledon and last year’s US Open finals, where she fell short against Iga Swiatek. Reflecting on her growth, Jabeur asserted that she is now a “different player” compared to last year.

“I have no regrets from last year,” she affirmed. “I believe I wasn’t prepared mentally or physically to play that kind of match. It happened for a reason.”

Jabeur expressed pride in her personal development and improvements in her mental and physical game, emphasizing her progress with the tennis racquet.

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More about Wimbledon revenge

• Wimbledon Official Website
• BBC Sport: Wimbledon
• Ons Jabeur’s Player Profile
• Elena Rybakina’s Player Profile
• Aryna Sabalenka’s Player Profile
• Iga Swiatek’s Player Profile