Ons Jabeur stages remarkable comeback to secure a spot in Wimbledon final against surprise finalist Marketa Vondrousova

In a captivating match at Wimbledon 2023, Ons Jabeur displayed incredible resilience to defeat Aryna Sabalenka and secure a place in the women's singles final. Jabeur, who was a set and 4-2 down, mounted a spectacular comeback, fuelled by the support of a vocal crowd, to win 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3. She will face unseeded Czech player Marketa Vondrousova in the final, ensuring that a new Wimbledon and Grand Slam champion will be crowned.

Vondrousova's journey to the final was equally impressive, as she disrupted Ukrainian Elina Svitolina's momentum with a decisive 6-3, 6-3 victory. The unseeded player has now become the first unseeded woman to reach the Wimbledon women's singles final in the Open era.

Last year's finalist, Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, had the Centre Court crowd rallying behind her throughout a match that has been hailed as one of the tournament's best. Expressing her gratitude towards the spectators, Jabeur said in her on-court interview, "Thank you to the crowd that kept me in the match... Thank you very much for believing in me." She also shared her focus on mental coaching, hinting at potentially writing a book about her experiences.

Jabeur, the sixth seed, captured the hearts of fans during her run to the final in the previous year. With the support of the crowd, she clawed her way back from the brink against the second-ranked player in the world. Despite facing a series of untimely errors, Jabeur managed to stay composed and resilient. In the first set, she applied consistent pressure on Sabalenka's service games. However, a flurry of mistakes allowed Sabalenka to take the set in a tiebreak. In the second set, Jabeur initially struggled and gifted Sabalenka a break of serve. Yet, driven by determination and the support of the crowd, she fought back to level the set. Displaying unwavering focus and skill, Jabeur won the next two games, taking the set with a stunning backhand return winner, as she embraced the roar of the crowd.

With the momentum firmly on her side, Jabeur secured a crucial break in the decider, holding a 4-2 lead. Despite Sabalenka's valiant efforts, Jabeur defended her advantage. Although Sabalenka saved multiple match points with powerful serves, Jabeur ultimately sealed the victory with an ace on her own serve.

Reflecting on her performance, Jabeur acknowledged the challenges posed by Sabalenka's shots and serves. She expressed pride in her ability to overcome adversity, stating, "I'm very proud of myself because maybe the old me would have lost this match today, and I would have been back home already."

In the other semifinal match, Marketa Vondrousova surprised the tennis world by defeating Elina Svitolina. Vondrousova, currently ranked 42nd in the world, admitted that she never believed she could perform well on grass. Having excelled on clay courts, she reached the French Open final in 2019, where she narrowly lost to Ashleigh Barty. Following the French Open, Vondrousova faced setbacks due to wrist surgeries and a six-month break from the sport. Her journey to the final at Wimbledon represents a remarkable comeback and showcases her determination to regain form.

The women's singles final at Wimbledon 2023 promises to deliver an exciting clash between Jabeur and Vondrousova. Both players have demonstrated immense skill, resilience, and the ability to overcome challenges throughout the tournament. Tennis enthusiasts eagerly await the crowning of a new champion at one of the most prestigious Grand Slam tournaments in the sport.

"I feel incredibly grateful to be here, in good health, and back on the tennis court again."

Vondrousova's belief has grown throughout the grass-court major, as she defeated four seeded opponents before facing former world number three Svitolina.

Her confidence was evident from the beginning, as Vondrousova strategically targeted Svitolina's backhand and gained two breaks of serve in a series of three games, taking a 4-3 lead.

Svitolina struggled with Vondrousova's loopier forehand and the Czech player's consistency from the baseline, leading to another break in the ninth game and securing the set.

Svitolina's journey has been one of the notable storylines of the tournament. Not only is she making a comeback after giving birth to her daughter Skai in October, but she is also dealing with the emotional impact of the conflict in her home country. She has used this as motivation to win matches.

True to form, Svitolina displayed her determination and will to win, even when she fell behind 4-0 in the second set and the match seemed to be slipping away.

She managed to claw back one break, and then another, giving herself hope for a remarkable comeback.

However, Vondrousova overcame her nerves, broke Svitolina's serve once again, and maintained her composure in a tense service game to secure victory.