Ons Jabeur waited a year but earned her Wimbledon revenge against Elena Rybakina as she beat the holder 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday to move into the semi-finals.
The match was a re-run of the 2022 final, when Kazakh Rybakina earned victory over the Tunisian. The losing finalist will aim for a second final here as she takes on second seed Aryna Sabalenka, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Madison Keys.
Jabeur had a set point in the opener against Rybakina but could not convert; “It should have gone my way,” she said later.
The North African, ranked sixth, immediately began her fightback. winning the second with a break in the concluding game and running off with the deciding third set to advance in just under two hours.
“There was a lot of emotion out there,” the winner said. “I’m glad I shouted, got angry, got calm and was able to focus.
“I hope to manage my emotions for the next few matches. I just kept going for my shots.
“I tried to show I’m here on the court.”
Jabeur, who has set a number of firsts for Arab and African women players., said her occasional outbursts against her coaches in moments of crisis eventually paid off.
“I tried to get back into the zone and use the game plan.”
Sabalenka beat Jabeur in a 2021 Wimbledon quarter-final, setting up another match with lots at stake.
“She’s an amazing player,” Jabeur said. “It will be challenging.
“It’s a difficult match but I will keep up my spirit on the court.”
Sabalnka came back immediately from a break down in the second set against Keys after winning the first against her American opponent, trophyholder at pre-Wimbledon Eastbourne.
A game later, the second seed reached 4-4 with only her second ace and calmly wrapped up victory in 78 minutes on her second match point as a Keys service return landed long.
“It’s really amazing to be back in the semis here, I can’t wait to play one for the second time,” Sabalenka said.
“Hopefully I can do better than last time (loss to Karolina Pliskova).
“This was a great match, I’m so happy I won the second set.”
Since 2021 I’ve changed a lot, I did a lot of work; I’m a different player now.
“I’ll do my best to go for a few more wins.”
Sabalrenka scored her 40th victory of the season and is one of six WTA players to have cracked 40 this season.
The Australian Open champion and Roland Garros semi-finalist improved her Grand slam record in 2023 to 17-1 – the first to win 17 of 18 at the majors since Serena Williams in 2015.
Sabalenka is battling to take the No. 1 ranking form Iga swiatek and saw her chances improve dramatically when the Pole was knocked out in a Tuesday quarter-final by Elina Svitolina.
Sabalenka can seize the WTA top spot with a semi-final win on Thursday.
