Destiny this time? Ons Jabeur outslugs Elena Rybakina in Wimbledon final rematch

Ons Jabeur trusts that her opportunity to win her first Grand Slam title in the 2022 Wimbledon final wasn’t hers to take. On that day, Elena Rybakina ultimately rallied to win in three sets in handing the Tunisian an agonizing defeat like none she had ever experienced.

“I believe in destiny. It wasn't supposed to be that year,” she told press on Monday. “Maybe greater things are coming after that final. Definitely will learn a lot from it.”

Is 2023 Jabeur’s time? It didn’t initially look like a plausible scenario when Jabeur lost two of her three grass-court matches ahead of The Championships, but her return to the All England Club has proven initial impressions might be deceiving.

Getting another crack at Rybakina on Centre Court, this time in the quarterfinal stage, Jabeur turned the tables by outslugging her rival for a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1 victory. Jabeur produced 14 more winners than Rybakina and three fewer unforced errors.

"I'm very happy with the performance," said Jabeur in her on-court interview. "A lot of emotion out there, especially playing someone that serves really well. It's frustrating to return. I'm glad that I did everything—shouted, got angry, then got calm and focused.

"I tried to hit every shot."

Jabeur, coming off a 6-0, 6-3 demolition of two-time champion Petra Kvitova, erased an early break deficit to eventually put the first set on her racquet at 6-5. Recovering from 15-40, the No. 6 seed arrived at set point when the world No. 3 cracked a backhand long, but Rybakina went back to that shot repeatedly to great effect in forcing a tie-break.

The crowd broke out into fits of laughter when chair umpire Kader Nouni announced the changing scores in the early goings. Though Jabeur saved two set points on her serve, Rybakina closed out the set with a T serve her opponent couldn’t return into the court.

Both players missed out on a trio of break point chances in the first half of set two—Jabeur at 1-0 and Rybakina at 2-2. With the defending champion serving to avoid a decider, Jabeur made her move. A crosscourt forehand winner handed her 15-30, then a terrific backhand return deep up the middle opened up another forehand finish. There would be no wasted set point this time, as Jabeur’s backhand return up the line was out of reach.

Jabeur stretched her momentum to five successive games, converting a break at love in the process to building a 3-0 lead in the final set. Pushed to deuce, Rybakina ended the streak to get on the scoreboard, but met her match on the baseline when she pressed Jabeur to 15-40 in the ensuing game. Jabeur struck a crosscourt forehand winner, jammed Rybakina with a deep backhand, caught the edge of the line with a forehand up the line, and capped off the game with an ace up the T that caused more chalk to fly up.

On the defensive, Jabeur claimed a double break by going behind Rybakina with a backhand up the line winner. She closed out the victory when Rybakina's forehand caught the net, handing the Kazakh just her second loss in 17 matches at the grass-court major.

Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Madison Keys, 6-2, 6-4, awaits Jabeur on Thursday. The Belarusian will rise to world No. 1 if she reaches the final.

"I saw she won very quick, which I wasn't happy with," laughed Jabeur. "She's an amazing player, very fast like Elena. She's someone that's been playing amazing this year."