Wimbledon: “Keep learning and stay positive”, Ons Jabeur still fails in Grand Slam final

2023-07-15 23:45:16

“I’m going to look ugly in the pictures… It’s the most painful defeat of my career”. During the awards ceremony, Ons Jabeur struggled to dry the tears that were streaming down his cheeks from the match point. For the third time in as many Grand Slam finals (and the second in a row at Wimbledon), the Tunisian, beaten by Marketa Vondrousova (6-4, 6-4) and especially by herself, missed the boat.

Undoubtedly the worst of his three attempts to land the much-desired Grail. Despite an entry break, a 3-0 ball on her serve, a 3-1 ball, then another break ahead (4-2), the world No. 6 missed the event. . As if petrified by the challenge, stretched to the maximum, to the point of almost offering the first round to her rival.

“I felt a lot of pressure, I was very stressed. But as for all the finals and even all the matches that I played, I told myself that it would be fine, that it is normal, she explains. During the match, I did everything I could. It was written that it would not be this time. This match was completely different from the previous three. There Marketa simply put the ball back in the court and used the slice a lot. I had a hard time adapting to his pace. »

Bis repeated in the second set, where the 2022 US Open finalist led 3-1 without managing to break free. The numbers are relentless. Jabeur converted 4 break points out of 10. Vondrousova 6 out of 7… Sad end to the journey for the “Minister of Happiness”, who had succeeded in successively dismissing Kvitova (n° 9), Rybakina (n° 3 and defending champion) and Sabalenka (No. 2) to afford the dream of a silver platter.

“It hurts because you feel so close to achieving your goal”

“It hurts because you feel so close to achieving your goal and you fall back to square one, sighs Jabeur. It’s like that. This match, like last year and the US Open final, will teach me how to win a Grand Slam final. I have to keep learning and staying positive. That’s what will keep me going. Otherwise, it will make me depressed, it will not help me much…”

Returning to the locker room, Jabeur met Kim Clijsters, who helped her put her misfortune into perspective. Chris Evert or Simona Halep also lost their first three finals. The Belgian did even “better” by losing her chance four times before winning… four.

“She just told me, slips the world No. 6, 28 years old. I know I have to take the positive to keep improving and be the player I want to be. But I know that with me, it can take years…”