Wimbledon 2023 final updates: Unseeded Vondrousova beats Jabeur
All the updates as they happened on July 15.
This blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates on the Wimbledon women’s singles final on Saturday, July 15.
This blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates on the Wimbledon women’s singles final on Saturday, July 15.
- The Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova has won against Tunisia ‘s Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4.
- Jabeur, 28, had hoped to become the first Arab woman to win a Grand Slam after two previous final losses.
- Vondrousova, 24, whose run at Wimbledon has guaranteed her a return to the world’s top 20 next week, is the first unseeded woman since 1963 to win a grand slam.
- Jabeur is the first woman to defeat three top-10 opponents at Wimbledon since Serena Williams in 2018.
It’s a wrap
There you have it from the All England Club.
When the final began, most would have picked Jabeur to see out the threat from Vondrousova to earn a maiden grand slam title after twin failures before.
However, the day belonged to the latter, who has had to battle her fair share of injuries over the years.
In the process, Vondrousova became the first unseeded woman to win the Wimbledon singles title in the Open Era.
While Jabeur began strongly, it was quickly apparent that Vondrousova was not going to roll over.
Ultimately, the significant disparity in unforced errors committed, and failure to convert break points, proved her undoing.
Jabeur promised to come back to this stage, and those on the circuit know it is not a misconceived belief.
Thank you so much for joining us today for our live coverage of the Wimbledon women’s singles final.
Do make sure to join us again tomorrow as we cover the men’s singles final, which promises to be a special one as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz prepare to do battle.
History Made.
Marketa Vondrousova is the first ever unseeded #Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Champion 👏 pic.twitter.com/HSKLR0uhIY
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2023
‘Feels worse than last year’: Jabeur’s fan
Hamza, who spoke to Al Jazeera earlier about the effects of Jabeur’s success in Tunisia, said he was very disappointed with the loss.
“It feels worse than last year because she’s a much-improved player but she still lost,” he said.
He joked that Vondrousova should have lost and “let Africa have one trophy”.
The Tunisian group have gathered near the player’s balcony, hoping to catch one last glimpse of their hero before she leaves Wimbledon for the last time this year.
‘Vondrousova showed she belongs’
Ben, from Edinburgh, believes the pressure of being a pre-match favourite took its toll on Jabeur and helped Vondrousova’s cause.
“Vondrousova has been a good player but she came into this match with nothing to lose and that mindset always helps,” he said.
“Jabeur probably felt she had to win for all those fans back home and here at centre court who had been rooting for her. Vondrousova was very underrated but she showed she belongs.”
Jabeur fans ‘gutted’
Anna and Hannah Chouman, of Lebanese-Polish heritage, said they came to see Jabeur win and were “gutted” by the result.
“It was so heartbreaking to see her and her husband cry at the end, she deserved to win,” Anna told Al Jazeera.
“She has done a remarkable job of representing the Muslim world,” Hannah said. “I believe if there’s anyone who can come back next year and win it, it’s Ons.”
Down but not out
Ons Jabeur didn’t win Wimbledon, but she deserves all the love in the world for even being here today.
She’s carried the weight of a continent on her shoulders for years.
She may act like it doesn’t get heavy, but it does.
She’ll never stop fighting & dreaming.
🇹🇳❤️🇹🇳 pic.twitter.com/oiz3HtktKS
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 15, 2023
Vondrousova continues Czech tradition
Czech women that have won Wimbledon:
Marketa Vondrousova 🏆
Petra Kvitova 🏆
Jana Novotna 🏆 pic.twitter.com/NFHrWu7Jav— wta (@WTA) July 15, 2023
‘It’s an amazing feeling’
Vondrousova is handed the Wimbledon Championship trophy and had this to say about the match, “It is an amazing feeling. Ons, congratulations to you, and you are just an inspiration to all of us. I hope you win one day as I know you are an amazing person and you are doing an amazing job.
“After everything I have been through, I had a cast on this time last year. it is amazing to stand here and hold this [trophy]. Tennis is crazy.
“The comebacks aren’t easy. You never know what to expect. I was hoping I could come back at this level. And now this is happening. I want to thank my box. All of you guys are amazing.
“I just enjoyed the two weeks so much. It was so exhausting but I am grateful for what has happened.”
‘This is the most painful loss of my career’
Jabeur is unable to hold back her tears as she is handed the runner-up trophy. She says it is the most painful loss of her career and wipes away tears as she doesn’t want to “look bad in the photos”.
“First off, I want to congratulate Marketa. You are an amazing player and I know you have had a lot of injuries so I am very happy for you.
“It’s going to be a tough day for me, but I am not going to give up. I will come back stronger.
“It was an amazing tournament for me, and I wish I could have continued till the end. I want to thank my team for believing in me.
“I promise to come back one day to win this tournament.”
Vondrousova achieves remarkable feat
It’s a picture of contrasting emotions as Vondrousova sits crouched on her knees in disbelief, while Jabeur hunches over in deep thought.
Billie Jean King stands up to applaud the woman who has now emulated her in winning a grand slam as an unseeded player.
Unseeded. Unstoppable.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/sgSwIWirDM
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2023
‘Ons is an inspiration’
Hamza, Sami, Wasim and Adam – a group of Tunisian friends living in the UK – have gathered on the Hill with a big Tunisian flag to watch their hero try and make history.
While their flag had to be folded away due to tournament rules, their spirits remain high.
Here’s what they had to say about Jabeur: “People in Tunisia are going through tough political times but she’s given them hope. They are getting together in coffee shops and in front of big screens – hoping that she can bring it home.”
“She is the biggest name in Tunisia right now. Ons is an inspiration for the youth of Tunisia. People are not only following tennis on the screens, but also handing tennis racquets to their kids. Instead of loitering on the streets, they are taking interest in sports. Now that they have seen one of their own succeed in a sport dominated by the Europeans and Americans, they are willing to pick it up.”
Vondrousova wins the 2023 Wimbledon women’s singles final
Jabeur sends down an uncontrolled return across the court to give Vondrousova the early lead.
It is followed by another error as Vondrousova goes up 30-0.
After a nice little rally develops, once again Jabeur undoes her good work with an overcooked return as Vondrousova is afforded a triple Championship point.
She shows some evidence of nerves as she double faults the first opportunity, but is able to secure her first Championship with a lovely drop winner across Jabeur to earn her maiden Grand Slam title.
Jabeur 4-6, 4-6 Vondrousova
Vondrousova on the cusp
Another closely contested game as Jabeur refuses to roll over.
Jabeur needs this game if she is to keep her Wimbledon dream alive, but lets herself down by affording a break point to Vondrousova after another return gets overhit.
It is followed with another unforced error into the net as Vondrousova prepares herself to serve for the Championship.
Jabeur 4-6, 4-5 Vondrousova
Vondrousova holds serve to tie up set
Vondrousova has a strong start with consecutive booming serves that are too hot for Jabeur to handle as she goes up 30-0.
She sets up Jabeur with a strong forehand to the left side before smashing a winner down the right.
Jabeur’s backhand return goes long as Vondrousova rallies back to even up the set.
Jabeur 4-6, 4-4 Vondrousova
Jabeur takes vital lead
Jabeur times a lovely backhand drop shot to take the opening point.
Her next backhand, as has been the story in this match, fails to live up to expectations as she gifts Vondrousova the point.
Another long return down the left side gives her opponent a 30-15 edge.
Vondrousova returns the favour with an undercooked forehand into the net to tie it up.
Jabeur comes back with a strong first serve to go up 40-30, before dispatching a cross court winner to make it 4-3 in her favour.
Jabeur 4-6, 4-3 Vondrousova
Vondrousova draws level in second set
Jabeur commits an unforced error to give Vondrousova the early lead.
Vondrousova has returned to her clinical ways as she is just not giving Jabeur an inch, despite her best efforts.
A double fault from Vondrousova takes the score to 30-15, but Jabeur rallies back to make it 30-30 after a lovely placed slice to the opposing side.
Jabeur’s backhand lets her down as she goes wide off the baseline on the right side. The call is challenged, but it is deemed correctly long.
Vondrousova seizes the opportunity to close out the game soon after to tie up the second set.
Jabeur 4-6, 3-3 Vondrousova
Vondrousova breaks Jabeur to make it 3-2
Jabeur has been superb in controlling the court and keeping her opponent on the defensive.
The game hinges at 30-30 as both players attempt to take command of the match.
A superb low cross-court backhand winner gives Vondrousova a 40-30 lead before Jabeur’s long return allows the Czech player back into the contest.
Jabeur 4-6, 3-2 Vondrousova
Jabeur successfully breaks to make it 3-1 in the second
Vondrousova, who looked in control, now needs to tackle a revitalised Jabeur, who is starting to show flashes of her imperious best.
A long cross-court return gives Jabeur a 30-15 edge. A drop shot from Jabeur on the left side proves to be her undoing as Vondrousova quickly gets to it before landing a winner down the right side.
Jabeur is able to take the next point before an overhit backhand from Vondrousova affords the Tunisian a 3-1 lead in the second set.
Jabeur 4-6, 3-1 Vondrousova
Jabeur’s big moment?
That last break of serve by Jabeur elicited a rapturous response from the crowd. The Tunisian responded with pumped fists of her own.
Her previous two matches have seen a crucial moment each, where the 28-year-old has turned the match on its head after losing the first set.
Could this be the one for the final?
Jabeur going from strength to strength
Jabeur is looking like a different player from the first set. That break has certainly proven to have made a difference.
She doesn’t afford Vondrousova any leeway as she serves strongly to quickly close out the game and take a 2-1 lead.
Jabeur 4-6, 2-1 Vondrousova
Jabeur fights back to break Vondrousova
Vondrousova’s confidence has grown immensely with that opening set win. She has the Tunisian on the floor with a 40-0 lead, before a mistimed cross-court backhand return goes well wide.
Jabeur uses the opportunity to beat the Czech again as she sends a beautiful backhand winner across the court.
Jabeur sends it to deuce with a strong forehand. Vondrousova looks slightly affected as she commits an unforced error to give Jabeur advantage.
However, Jabeur fails to get a backhand return over the net to send it back to deuce.
Vondrousova allows Jabeur advantage as she rushes up the court before sending a winner across Vondrousova.
The Czech is once again on the back foot as Jabeur controls the court beautifully to keep her at the baseline, and then sends a strong backhand which Vondrousova is unable to control.
Jabeur 4-6, 1-1 Vondrousova
Can Jabeur get back into the match?
Jabeur will have to run one of her energy conversion cycles again. She has talked about “converting bad energy into good one” when she has been previously down and out in a match, and boy, does she need to switch back on now.
Her shoulders have dropped, she has been talking to herself angrily and has looked a bit jaded after back-to-back three-set thrillers before the final.
The crowd, as if sensing Jabeur’s mood, gives her thunderous applause at the start of the second set.
Vondrousova breaks Jabeur to take second set opener
Jabeur’s struggles continue as the opening point ends up into the net. She has committed 17 unforced errors to Vondrousova’s six thus far.
A deft slice allows Jabeur to open the window, before an excellent backhand down the line makes it 30-30.
However, a wide forehand — as she tries to catch the line — misses the mark to give Vondrousova a 40-30 edge.
Jabeur then sends an attempted smash down the left side into the net to give Vondrousova the opening game in the second set.
Jabeur 4-6, 0-1 Vondrousova
Vondrousova could match Billie Jean King
Should Vondrousova win today, she will become the first unseeded woman to win a grand slam since Billie Jean King in 1963.
King, who is expected to hand over the winner’s trophy, is seated in the royal box next to Kate Middleton.
Vondrousova wins opening set
Jabeur is starting to fall apart as she goes down 30-0 early on.
An uncharacteristic return goes well wide as Vondrousova earns a triple set point opportunity.
Another strong serve from the Czech and Jabeur has no answer as Vondrousova easily wins the game to take the first set.
Jabeur has left the court temporarily, possibly to try and get regrouped for what should be a gruelling second set ahead.
Jabeur 4-6 Vondrousova
Vondrousova now in the ascendency
It is Jabeur’s turn to serve and it is clear not an inch will be given by either player.
However, Vondrousova is able to go up 40-15 after a couple of unforced errors from her opponent, and Vondrousova ends up prevailing on yet another error from Jabeur.
Jabeur is clearly battling herself out there, and will need to re-focus if she is to come back.
Vondrousova now has an opportunity to serve for a victory in this opening set.
Jabeur 4-5 Vondrousova