Former seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander said he thought Ons Jabeur’s run to the WImbledon final was the highlight of this year’s tournament. Even though Jabeur fell just short of winning her maiden Grand Slam title, it was still a memorable run for her as she wrote tennis history.
By reaching the Wimbledon final, Jabeur became the first Arab or African woman to reach a Grand Slam. Jabeur actually made a good start to the Wimbledon final but failed to sustain the same level of play in the rest of the match as Elena Rybakina claimed a 3-6 6-2 6-2 victory.
Wilander: Jabeur transcends tennis
“I have to say Ons Jabeur. Unfortunately she didn’t win, it was a good final, she lost in three sets of course to Rybakina,” Wilander told Eurosport. “But she transcends tennis into the living room of North Africa, Tunisia, the African continent, but, in general, because she’s such a likable character.
She plays such great tennis, has great hands and it’s just a different brand of women’s tennis and tennis in general. So these are the kinds of personalities and players we need to grow our game and to push it into all the corners of our planet”.
After losing the Wimbledon final, Jabeur admitted she was disappointed but refused to be negative about her future. “I’m definitely positive about [holding the runners-up shield],” Jabeur said. “I’m very glad with my results.
I don’t regret anything. I gave it all today. A final, I lose so many at the beginning, then step back and win one more. I don’t disbelieve in myself and I know that I’m going to come back and win a Grand Slam, for sure.”
Jabeur’s next chance of winning a first Grand Slam title will be the US Open. Jabeur hasn’t really had much success at the US Open so far in her career as she has never made it past the third round at Flushing Meadows. It remains to be seen how will Jabeur play leading up to the US Open and how she will then do at Flushing Meadows.
