Misc Tennis

Wimbledon 2023 results: Elena Rybakina beaten by Ons Jabeur in quarter-finals

Elena Rybakina volleys at the net

Venue: All England Club Dates: 3-16 July
Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. More coverage details here.

Defending champion Elena Rybakina lost in the Wimbledon quarter-finals as Ons Jabeur avenged her defeat in last year’s final.

Sixth seed Jabeur came from a set down to win 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-1 in a reverse of the match 12 months ago.

The Tunisian clinched the second set with a timely break of serve at 5-4 and then dominated the decider.

Jabeur will play Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals on Thursday after she powered past Madison Keys.

Belarusian second seed Sabalenka beat the American 6-2 6-4 – keeping alive her quest to win a first Wimbledon title and replace Iga Swiatek as world number one.

Rybakina’s exit means there is guaranteed to be a first-time Wimbledon champion this year.

Jabeur was far more aggressive than she was last year against a player known for her powerful shot-making, with the Tunisian hitting 35 winners to Rybakina’s 21.

“I said I am going for my shots because if you try to go easy with her it is not going to work,” Jabeur said.

“It is not easy playing her but I wish we could exchange this match for the finals last year.”

Rybakina had only lost her serve once in the entire tournament before the quarter-final but the Kazakh was put under constant pressure by Jabeur.

Jabeur broke twice in the first set before losing it on a tie-break and, crucially, once in the second.

With the second set in the balance, Jabeur hit a fine backhand return winner to start the game and then forced Rybakina to twice push backhands into the tramlines.

That game levelled the match and was the second in a run of five games in a row for the Tunisian which ultimately decided the contest.

Rybakina threatened to overturn Jabeur’s 3-1 lead in the decider but, helped by two tight challenges, the Tunisian fought off danger before closing out the win to set up a last-four meeting with Sabalenka.

“I saw she won very quick which I wasn’t happy with,” Jabeur said of Sabalenka. “She is an amazing player. She hits very fast like Elena so it will be very challenging.

“It will be a difficult match but I will keep this spirit on the court and hopefully the crowd will be with me.”

Still a ‘positive few weeks’ for Rybakina

Rybakina reached the Australian Open final in January

Rybakina’s title defence at SW19 began just four weeks after she withdrew from her third-round French Open match with illness.

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