By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday July 13, 2023
In tennis' most ancient field of dreams, it is a new and improved Ons Jabeur that once again stands one win from the realization of a lifelong dream: a Wimbledon title.
We know what happened last year, when she became the first Arab and Tunisian to ever reach a Grand Slam final at the very same timeless tennis cathedral: she lost a lead in the final and left Centre Court with the runner-up trophy. Not bad, but not exactly what she wanted.
In 2023, a steadily evolving Jabeur is back to take care of unfinished business. After her third consecutive Top-10 win on Thursday, she is one win from the ultimate dream and waiting to square off with Czech southpaw Marketa Vondrousova in the final.
How did Jabeur, in a season sabotaged by injuries, manage to make it through that murderer’s row of a draw to take her place in this year’s final?
With courage, conviction, a resplendent grass-court game and mental toughness.
She admitted on the court after her 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 victory over Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday that such a feat would not have been possible last year.
“I’m very proud of myself because maybe the old me would have lost the match today and went back home already,” she said.
Jabeur, who puts major emphasis on her work with her mental coach Melanie Maillard, has found a way to rise about her failure in two Grand Slam finals in 2023, to emerge as a better – and more resilient – player.
“I'm working on myself like crazy – you have no idea what I'm doing,” she told reporters after her third comeback from a set down of the tournament on Thursdsay. “Every time there is something, I'm very tough with myself, try to improve everything. Very impatient sometimes, which is not good. Maybe the injuries did slow me down and teach me to be patient and accept what's going on.
“For me, I always believed in mental, in working on it. That's what I've been doing for the past years since I was maybe 10 years old because I know if you are not ready physically, mentally you can always win.”
2022 was a brilliant season for Ons Jabuer, one that saw her reach a pair of major finals, make her Top-5 debut and inspire millions across the globe as an ambassador for Tunisia, the Arab world and the African continent.
If I can do it, so can you, she tells the people. Now, exhibing the same grace and humility, she wants to show them how to respond to - and overcome - adversity.
On Saturday at Wimbledon she’ll take a third shot at becoming a Grand Slam champion. If she doesn’t cash in, you better believe there will come a fourth.
“I would say I always believed,” she said. “But sometimes you would question and doubt it if it's going to happen, if it's ever going to happen. Being in the last stages, I think it does help you believe more.
“For me, I'm going to learn a lot from not only Wimbledon's final but also US Open final, and give it my best. Maybe this year was all about trying two times and getting it right the third time.”