By Erik Gudris | @ATNTennis | Saturday July 8, 2023
2022 runner up Ons Jabeur survived a scare, coming through a tense battle with Bianca Andreescu in three.
Photo Source: Rob Newell/CameraSport
In a match that featured sublime shotmaking, shifting momentum and a pivotal rain delay, Ons Jabeur prevailed in three tough sets against Canada’s Bianca Andreescu to keep her hopes of winning Wimbledon alive.
The No. 6 seed Jabeur struck a decisive ace on match point to seal the 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph and set a clash with two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the round of 16.
Jabeur, in her post-match press conference, told reporters that she knew she would win the match after a third set rain delay.
“When I went back, I knew it's going to be in my favor because I reacted very well after a match.I know listening to my coach, knowing more about it, could help me,” she explained. “I'm thankful that my coach was there and gave me a lot of advice about tactical and technical things that I was doing wrong and I needed to improve.
“It was very emotional for me to stop. I had Melanie [Maillard], my mental coach there. She encouraged me, just gave me a lot of positive energy. I think that's what I needed to complete and win this match.”
Andreescu, making her first third-round appearance at SW19, entered the day having never played before on Wimbledon’s famed Centre Court. Despite confessing that she is still trying to figure out how to play on grass, in the early going the 23-year-old Andreescu produced tennis reminiscent of the stellar form that helped her win the 2019 US Open title.
Showing off her potent firepower along with deft touch, Andreescu broke Jabeur’s serve and soon opened up a 4-1 lead. Jabeur herself looked lost for most of the first set as her opponent continued playing a very clean set of tennis. Soon enough, Andreescu wrapped up the first set 6-3 on the strength of seven winners and just three unforced errors.
Jabeur began playing better at the start of the second set, yet still had trouble dealing with her opponent’s power and variety, something that the two-time Grand Slam finalist is known for herself.
Jabeur soon turned things to her favor midway in the set. At 2-all, Jabeur held serve for 3-2 after Andreescu started to challenge a shot of hers that was called out, but then changed her mind, after Jabeur told her that the ball was way out. The unofficial review later showed the ball to actually be in.
That bit of uncertainty appeared to rattle Andreescu. In the next game, opportunistic Jabeur came up with several backhand winners to finally break her opponent for 4-2.
From there, Jabeur eventually closed out the set 6-3.
The final set provided more plot twists.
Andreescu suddenly raised her level back to where it was at the beginning of the match. A clever drop shot winner soon earned her 0-40 on Jabeur’s serve in the fourth game. Andreescu later converted on a backhand winner to go up 3-1.
That advantage would be short-lived. In the ensuing game, a double fault from the Canadian handed the break back to Jabeur for 2-3.
Rain then interrupted the match for over an hour as the Centre Court roof was closed. When play resumed, Jabeur navigated through a tricky service game that saw her fend off two break points. She eventually produced a backhand winner to level at 3-all.
With the indoor conditions appearing to favor Jabeur’s service games, the final momentum shift happened late in the set. Serving at 4-all, Andreescu played her worst game of the match that included multiple errors and a double fault. Jabeur easily broke at love to give herself 5-4.
Jabeur was tested again in the last game, but she brushed off the pressure and fired a clinching ace to seal the victory.
After the match, Jabeur acknowledged Billie Jean King, who watched the match in the royal box, and told the American icon that she wished she could have gotten some advice from the all-time great during the match.
Afterwards, Andreescu admitted that she will rue letting the third set get away from her at the end.
“Definitely,” she said, adding: “I don't think I changed anything. I think she (Jabeur) kind of went for a little bit more. She hit a lot of lines today. I don't want to say lucky shots, but she did hit on the parts of the court that had a lot of bad bounces. So I was, like, Okay, that's fine.
Andreescu has yet to reach the second week at a major other than the US Open, but she did reach the third round at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, marking career-best performances at both Slams.
“I tried to stay positive,” she said. “But that's tennis. I don't think anyone has ever held their serve all the time… It really sucks. I'm very upset.
“But if I really think about it, I mean, there are a lot of positives. Like I basically almost lost yesterday. And to be able to have an opportunity today to play again against a top player on Centre Court at Wimbledon, it's a dream come true.”