Five stats that define Ons Jabeur’s breathtaking run to the 2023 Wimbledon final
After falling one step shy of winning Wimbledon in 2023, Ons Jabeur is back for another shot at the crown. Here are the numbers behind her rise…
Ons Jabeur Wimbledon 2023 | Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic
Ons Jabeur has produced thrilling tennis across the Wimbledon fortnight to take her place in the Wimbledon final once again. Last year the Tunisian trailblazer became the first Arab and North African player to reach a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon, but squandered a set lead to fall to Elena Rybakina in the final.
“I’m looking forward for my next finals,” she said after the loss. “I’m sure I will learn a lot from this one. But positive two weeks for me. I’m just going to keep my head high.”
She was correct. The Tunisian reached the final at the 2022 US Open, before falling to Iga Swiatek in two tight sets and, after an injury-marred first half of the season, has hit her stride again to take her place in her third major final.
Jabeur will bid to become the first Arab and Tunisian Grand Slam champion on Saturday when she meets Marketa Vondrousova in the women’s singles final at Wimbledon.
Here are five incredible stats that define Jabeur’s run at Wimbledon this year:
She’s 7-2 when dropping the first set at Wimbledon since 2018
Jabeur has won three times from a set down at these Championships – d. Andreescu 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in round of 32, d. Rybakina 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1 in QF, d. Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 in SF.
Remarkably, Jabeur has won 13 matches from a set down at the Slams since the start of 2018, which is more than any other WTA player, per ESPN.
Jabeur was 1-7 when trailing by a set at the majors prior to 2019. Since 2019, she has won 11 and lost 13.
She has three top 10 wins at Wimbledon this year
Jabeur is racking up big ticket wins at SW19 this year. She entered the tournament carrying a 2-7 lifetime record against the top 10 at the majors but has defeated three top 10 players – No 9 Kvitova, No 3 Rybakina, No 2 Sabalenka – to reach the final.
Jabeur is now 15-21 overall against the top 10 for her career.
She has two top 5 wins at Wimbledon this year
Jabeur is the first woman to notch two top 5 wins at Wimbledon since Sabine Lisicki in 2013. The Tunisian was 0-5 vs. the top 5 at majors prior to Wimbledon.
She has defeated four former Grand Slam champions at Wimbledon this year
Jabeur is the fourth WTA player to defeat four former Grand Slam champions at the same major in the Open Era, and the second at Wimbledon this year.
Elina Svitolina defeated Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek to reach the semis.
Jabeur has defeated Bianca Andreescu, Petra Kvitova, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka to reach the final.
The other two players to defeat four former Grand Slam champions at the same major were Serena Williams at the US Open in 1999 and Justine Henin at Roland-Garros in 2005 (both won the title).
She has won her first three major semi-finals
Jabeur is the sixth woman in Open Era history to have won her first three major semi-finals. She joins Garbine Muguruza (3), Svetlana Kuznetsova (3), Naomi Osaka (4), Mary Pierce (6) and Evonne Goolagong (3) on the list.
