Key events
The favourite to win this final is Jabeur but can Vondrousova cause upset? We’ll find out soon!
Two history-makers, but only one will be crowned champion 🏆@IBM Match Insights spotlights Ons Jabeur and Marketa Vondrousova’s battle for the Ladies’ Singles title 📊
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2023
Vondrousova has said: “I have a bet with my coach. If I win a grand slam, he’s going to get one [a tattoo], so I hope I will. I mean, we’ll see what happens and what I’ll do. For me, it’s also art. I don’t know, I just like it. I appreciate the people that do this.”
Jabeur said ahead of the final: “I think a final is a final. You’re playing someone, grand slam champion or not. I think it’s going to be very difficult. It can happen for both. Whoever could handle more the emotions, whoever could be more ready on the court, will definitely win that match.” Read the full piece:
Sixth seed Jabeur herself would make history too – not only as she would win Wimbledon for the first time but because she would be the first African or Arab woman to win the title.
What experience do both players have in slam finals? Well we know Jabeur was in the 2022 Wimbledon final but she was also in the US Open final last year – she is yet to win her first slam title. Vondrousova also has final experience behind her. She reached the 2019 French Open final but was beaten by Ashleigh Barty. So whoever wins today will achieve the dream of a first slam title.
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Czech player Vondrousova got through the first three rounds in straight sets against Peyton Stearns, Veronika Kudermetova and Donna Vekic respectively. She faced Marie Bouzkova in the round of 16 and she lost the first set but managed to salvage a comeback to reach the quarters. In the last eight Vondrousova played Jessica Pegula – another match that went the distance – and in the semis she face Elina Svitolina. She dominated the semi 6-3, 6-3 to reach the final.
Tunisia’s Jabeur got through the first and second round in straight sets against Magdalena Frech and Zhuoxuan Bai respectively. In the third round she faced a tight battle and had to stage a comeback against Bianca Andresscu – eventually coming away with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win. Jabeur blew Petra Kvitova away in the round of 16 with a 6-0, 6-3 victory and the quarter-final saw a repeat of last year’s final. Rybakina won the first set after a tie break but Jabeur came back once more to get through to the semi-finals. In the last four she lost the first set again against Aryna Sabalenka but managed to get the win to reach the final in consecutive years.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the women’s singles final at Wimbledon! Ons Jabeur will be aiming to avenge her final loss last year when she fell to defeat over three sets to Elena Rybakina.
This year she faces Marketa Vondrousova is the first unseeded player to reach the women’s final in the open era. If she wins she will make more history as the first unseeded player to lift the women’s trophy. Vondrousova faces tough opposition in Jabeur though and also a fan favourite.
It will be interesting to see which way the Wimbledon crowd will swing today, though they do usually route for the player on the back foot! Next I’ll run through each player’s run to the final ahead of the start of the final – which is scheduled for 2pm BST.
Are you ready for another epic final? So am I! Let’s go.