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By Arnie Leshin
Not exactly. But after the women’s singles championship of the annual Wimbledontennis spectacular wound down Saturday morning, it did serve up new blood, as in first time at this level of one of the premier Grand Slams for both finalist Rybakinaand Jabeur.
Yes, both were seeded, Jabeur at No. 3 and Rybakina No. 23, but neither were expected to be around for the grand finale played before a full house at the CentreCourt of the All-England Lawn Tennis outdoor grass courts. But they both made their way there, and which answered some questions.
No. 1, Wimbledon bans Russian players over war in Ukraine. It was posted on television screens, in newspapers, even on street notices and billboards. Imagin that, and No. 2 the same notice regarding Asian area players.
But it didn’t work. Kazakhstan is a country between Russia and China, but even with the 23-year-old tall and talented Rybakinabeing allowed to play, it was also perhaps overlooked that she was born in Moscow. The 27-year-old Jabeur’s native land of Tunesia is situated in nearby South Africa, so maybe officials didn’t check their maps.
Regardless, they let them play and there they were at the top of the heap while higher-ranked players went down in the earlier rounds, and that included former Wimbledon winner Simona Halep, who was ousted by Jabeur, and Iga Swiatek, whose 38-match win streak became history against Rybakina. And on they went, both playing composed, with Jebeurconcentrating more on her first level guest box of family, coaches, and friends, and Rybakina, all of 6-foot-2, at a different tune that brought more concentration, less celebrating, and not checking out the first level guest box that sat her family, coaches and friends.
Now since the WTA computer rankings began in 1975, just one woman ranked lower than Rybakina won Wimbledon — Venus Williams in 2007 at age 31, although she had been No. 1 and had already won three of her five career Wimbledon trophies.
And this was the first women’s title match since 1961 at the venue on the outskirts of London that two players who were making their debuts in a major final. Rybakina, after dropping the first set, 3-6, and not making the shots she made getting this far, employed her big serve and powerful forehand to overcome Jebeur’s mix of spins and slices at Centre Court.
The second set was a big improvement for Rybakina and the crowd was now seeing perhaps a tight tussle for the sparkling gold plaque that goes to the winner. Jebeur had been riding a 12-match win streak that had come entirely on grass courts. There were glimpses of the strength of each early on. Rakabinashowed off her best strokes that included a big serve that leads the tour in aces in 2022 by a wide margin.
Jebeur did adjust with a 119 mph service winner, and was reading her opponent’s serves better, as well as her trademark variety to create less-inviting opportunities for baseline power. But in the second set, Jebeur saw her last lead at 2-1 before Rybakina won the last four games to even the match at 1-1. But when Jebeur went up 2-1 in set two, she turned toward her guest box, jumped and yellow.
But it was at that point, that Jebeur met disaster. Rybakina steadied and serving became more effective, while Jebeurbegan to have trouble using all of her creativity. She did surprise with a few volleys and drop shots at the net, but this didn’t last long. Plus, Jebeur’s forehand became increasingly problematic and Rybakina got her serve and groundstrokesgoing in the final two sets.
Rybakina, who defeated Serena Williams at last year’s French Open, finally earned her first break point to begin the second set, and cruised from there. In the deciding set three, she was up 4-2, then 5-2 before hitting two long returns, but on her next serve she lined a shot beyond Jebeur’sreach, and then smiled and slowed strolled to the net to greet the disappointed Jebeur. Not much of a celebration, and it took a while before she smiled for the cameras and spoke more on the interviews that followed.
“To be honest,” she said in an under-statement, “I was super nervous from the time I woke up early this morning.
But once I got my game together, I began to relax.”
Then she had the way cleared where she finally raced to the box where her family, coaches and friends sat and returned hugs, kisses and smiles.
And as she exited back to the courts for more of the ceremonies, she endeared herself with the crowd after a stunning display.
The other leading players that were gone by the 13th day finals of the tournament were Serena Williams, Ashleigh Barty, Elina Sviolina, Petra Skvitoch, Garbene Muguruza, and Aryna Sabalenkol.
And not to again bring up the ban that threatened the two finalists, it was just a wonderful experience for the players and fans in what turned out to be wonderful weather and good tennis at Wimbledon. For Russia, no word from its President Putin, it was just a gala victory. It was also the initial Grand Slam victory for Kazahastan. For Jebeur, she became the first woman from Africa to reach a Grand Slam final.
Two other finals will be played on Sunday, One is the men’s title match between 2nd-seeded Novak Dkojovich and unseeded Nick Krygois, who was given an unchallenged berth in the final after his opponent, 2nd-seeded Rafael Nadal, was playing with abdomen tears and muscle pulls after turning back 10th-seeded American Taylor Fritz in five grueling quarterfinal sets, and then withdrawing from the semis, thus 27-year-old Krygoisof Australia will now play his first-ever Grand Slam. Dkojovich disposed of 10th-seeded Cameron Norrie of Great Britain in a four-set semis.
The other finals will be in the women’s doubles pairing 2nd-seeds Sia Zang of China and Ellie Mertens of Romania against 5th-seeds Bethany Krejcikova of Belgium and Carina Siniakova of Czechoslovakia.
NOTES: To reach the beautiful parks, golf courses and tennis facilities and water sites of Wimbledon, it just takes a stroll down Home Park Road, where you’ll also pass the legendary Queen’s Club in West Kensington, Wimbledon Park where you see the colorful 20 park tennis courts, the Tennis Warehouse.
