Two months after her defeat in the Wimbledon final, Ons Jabeur missed a second chance to become the first African tenniswoman to win a Grand Slam tournament. On Saturday September 10, in New York, the Tunisian lost in the final of the US Open against the world number one, the Polish Iga Swiatek (6-2, 7-6 [5]).
The progress is there, undeniable. The results of recent months, the world number two spot achieved this summer (number five today) and this second consecutive Major final attest to this. But the step is still a little too high, for the moment at least. The rise of Ons Jabeur stumbled when registering his name on the list of winners of a Grand Slam tournament.
On July 9, in London, the Tunisian had laid down her arms against the Kazakh Elena Rybakina in the Wimbledon final. And this Saturday, September 10, the play did not fall on the right side in the final of the US Open.
Swiatek ships the first set
Opposite the “Minister of Happiness”, as she is nicknamed in Tunisia, there was the boss of the painting: Iga Swiatek, world number one, twice titled at Roland-Garros (2020 and 2022) and back in form after a slump during the summer. A very tough opponent, who has lost only one final in her career. It was in 2019 and it was his very first; Since then, the 21-year-old Pole has won the other nine she has contested before this one at Flushing Meadows, New York.
Aware of the strengths of her opponent, Ons Jabeur did not appear as an expiatory victim at the Arthur-Ashe stadium. ” I like to play hard and I think I know exactly what to do against her. “, she had announced on the eve of this final. The start of the match, however, did not live up to its ambitions.
Very well launched, Iga Swiatek pocketed his serve, took that of Ons Jabeur on a shutout and confirmed his break to quickly lead 3-0. The Tunisian reacted to come back to 3-2, but the rebound was only fleeting. Swiatek resumed her march forward and grabbed Jabeur’s serve twice more to win the first set in 32 minutes. Its dominance was then indisputable.
A second set hung
In the second round, the Polish first maintained her grip on the meeting. Ons Jabeur had more waste in his game and less ease in his shots and moves. His first balls, in particular, stuck too often. And when Swiatek led 3-0, many thought the final was over and the points were going to roll.
But back to the wall, the Tunisian raised her voice. Unless it is her rival who has experienced a slack? Still, to the delight of the public, Jabeur responded to Swiatek’s challenge to come back to 3-2, then 4-4. The two players, tied, then engaged in a big showdown. None wanted to give in and this second set ended in a tie break. And after saving a match point a little earlier, Ons Jabeur ended up cracking by sending a return that was too long (6-2, 7-6 [5]).
The 28-year-old Tunisian therefore bows out for her second Grand Slam final and misses the opportunity to become the first African tenniswoman to achieve this feat. The disappointment was quickly read on his face when he returned to his chair. On the other side of the net, Iga Swiatek, she let her joy burst. The Polish wins a third Grand Slam, the first on hard. She is the first player to win two Grand Slam tournaments in a single season since Germany’s Angelique Kerber in 2016 (Australian Open and US Open).