The defending champion is out at Wimbledon. After beating Jabeur in the final last year, Rybakina has to admit defeat in the quarterfinals. The number two in the world, on the other hand, continues to march.
There is definitely a new winner at Wimbledon this year. Defending champion Jelena Rybakina from Kazakhstan lost in the quarter-finals against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 7: 6 (7: 5), 4: 6, 1: 6 and was eliminated in London.
Last year both tennis players faced each other in the final. At that time, Rybakina won in three sets and celebrated her first Grand Slam title.
This time Jabeur prevailed and now meets Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals this Thursday. The second in the world rankings from Belarus clearly won their quarterfinals against Madison Keys from the USA 6: 2, 6: 4 and is thus in the last four of Wimbledon like two years ago. Last year, Sabalenka was not allowed to play at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club because of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.
In the first semi-final this Thursday (2.30 p.m. CET / Sky) Jelina Switolina from Ukraine and Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic will face each other.
Explosive endgame is more likely
A politically explosive final between the Ukrainian Switolina and the Belarusian Sabalenka has become more likely. For the organizers in Wimbledon, such a duel for the title would be difficult to moderate. Since the Russian war of aggression against her homeland, Switolina has refused to shake hands with players from Russia and Belarus after the games.
After her round of 16 victory over Viktoria Asarenka from Belarus, Asarenka was booed by some of the spectators when she left the field. A joint award ceremony with Switolina and Sabalenka would be terrible for the Wimbledon makers.
“I don’t want to look too far ahead. But I’ve said before that I’m particularly motivated against players from Russia and Belarus,” Switolina said after her quarter-final win against world number one Iga Swiatek from Poland. “It’s a great motivation, but also a great responsibility for my country.”
After all, the women’s organization WTA has now made a statement in which it explains the circumstances to the public. One respects the decision of the Ukrainian players like Svitolina, after the duels with opponents from Russia and Belarus, to refrain from the obligatory handshake. And one is sure that this also applies to tennis fans, the WTA statement said.
Sabalenka is in strong form
Sabalenka continued her strong form this year in her quarterfinal against Keys. The 25-year-old convinced with her powerful game and got the first set after just 38 minutes. Keys improved in the second round and pulled away to 4:2. But then the Australian Open winner played four games in a row and converted her second match point after 87 minutes.
“Even as a small child I dreamed of being successful here in Wimbledon,” said Sabalenka after her 40th victory this year. Two years ago she lost in three sets in the semifinals to Czech Karolina Pliskova. “I’ve become a better player since then,” said Sabalenka.
Jabeur showed a strong fighting performance against Rybakina and was unstoppable in the third set. “I’m very happy. Although I wish I could trade that game for last year’s.”
Source: Stern
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