ondrousova vs Jabeur LIVE!
Marketa Vondrousova and Ons Jabeur both get another shot at picking up a first Grand Slam title as they meet in the Wimbledon final on Centre Court this afternoon. Jabeur made it to the final 12 months ago SW19, taking the first set but losing to Elena Rybakina, while Vondrousova was runner-up to Ashleigh Barty at the French Open four years ago.
It has been a remarkable fortnight for Vondrousova, who had never previously made it beyond the second round at Wimbledon. A year ago she was simply a tourist in London, taking in the tennis and the sights with a cast on an injured left wrist.
Jabeur’s appearance here is certainly more expected, having made the final at both Wimbledon and the US Open last year. She now looks to finally get over the line, having seen off Petra Kvitova, Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka with three superb performances in the second week of these Championships. Follow Vondrousova vs Jabeur with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!
Live updates
Not long to go!
Players will be out onto Centre Court in the next 15 minutes or so.
The roof remains shut, with it still very windy around Wimbledon. Vondrousova had her practice session outside this morning in the wind, while Jabeur was under the Centre Court roof.
Think both will be happy enough if they avoid having to contend with the elements this afternoon.
Third time lucky?
Ons Jabeur is hoping she can finally clear the Grand Slam hurdle this afternoon, insisting that she still firmly believes her time will come after finishing as runner-up at Wimbledon and the US Open last year.
“Yeah, last year was my first final of a Grand Slam,” Jabeur said after beating Sabelanka in the semi-finals. “Definitely getting closer to winning the Grand Slam that I always wished.
“I would say I always believed. 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. So let’s see.”
Good memories for Vondrousova
Vondrousova has already beaten Jabeur twice this year.
The 24-year-old secured a 6-1 5-7 6-1 victory over Jabeur in the second round of the Australian Open, before also coming out on top at Indian Wells two months later.
Jabeur has beaten Vondrousova on grass though, a 6-3 7-6 win at Eastbourne in 2021.
Vondrousova: I’m a different person
Marketa Vondrousova believes her experience of playing in a Grand Slam final four years ago will help her this afternoon.
She managed just four games when losing to Ash Barty in the French Open final, but Vondrousova is confident she is in a better position this time.
“I think it can definitely help in tough moments,” Vondrousva said of that defeat.
“Also, like, I’ve been through it. Once I was very young, so I think it was just too much for me back then. Yeah, I think this can help you also on the way. You know what to do. You know you have to have good people around you.
“Definitely it can help. I mean, I’m a bit older now also. Yeah, I think I’m a bit different person. Yeah, I’m just very happy to be through this again.”
Two very different settings for practice this morning!
Finally over the line?
A third Grand Slam final for Ons Jabeur this afternoon – will it be a first title?
She was beaten in three sets by Elena Rybakina at Wimbledon last year, before losing in straight sets to Iga Swiatek just a couple of months later in the US Open final.
Jabeur is now back on the biggest stage again, looking to take that final step. She’s been incredibly popular all fortnight, expect Centre Court to be firmly behind the sixth seed.
Weather update
After a day of rain yesterday, it’s much better at Wimbledon today.
The sun is almost out, but the concern today is the wind. It should stay dry, but gusts of up to 50mph could have had a big impact throughout the afternoon. For now, the Centre Court roof is closed.
Vondrousova looks to deny Jabeur
It could reasonably be argued that Ons Jabeur had a relatively easy draw at last year’s Wimbledon, not so in 2023.
In each of the last four rounds she has faced a four-time grand slam champion in Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Petra Kvitova and Bianca Andreescu, at least three of which were reasonable picks to win the tournament at the start of it a fortnight ago. And only one of those matches has not gone the distance.
And yet the ‘Minister for Happiness’ finds herself once again back in the final against a player who could barely have been anyone’s pick to make it to the latter stages in London.
The unexpectedness of Marketa Vondrousova’s run is such that not even her husband, Stepan, decided to attend the tournament. Instead, the couple agreed that he would stay at their home in Prague and work.
On Friday, he flew into London with Vondrousova’s sister while the couple’s cat, Frankie, is now in the hands of the cat sitter ahead of her second Grand Slam final.
Read our full preview here!
Prediction
Last year was incredibly painful for Jabeur, having taken the final set in the final before the match slipped away from her.
She will surely be better for it though, and she has had to be at her battling best this week to come from behind against Rybakina and Sabalenka.
Vondrousova has done superbly to reach the final, with impressive wins over Pegula and Svitolina, but Jabeur looks to have enough for a first Grand Slam title.
Jabeur to win – straight sets.
Some Centre Court practice
About an hour and a half to go until the players walk out onto Centre Court – Ons Jabeur is already there.
She’s currently having a practice session with her team on court, watched by a few people already in their seats.
All very serious so far from the ‘Minister of Happiness’…