On Saturday, Russian-born Elena Rybakina defeated Tunisian Ons Jabeur in straight sets to win Wimbledon, depriving her the chance to make African tennis history.
Jabeur had the upper hand at the outset of the match, but Kazakhstan’s 17th seed recovered and lost just four more games to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
“I never felt anything like this before,” said the champion. “Congratulations to Ons for everything you have achieved.
“You are an inspiration to Tunisians and everybody. You played a great match.”
In the third game of the match, when Rybakina’s backhand went long, 27-year-old Jabeur broke him.
After that, she performed a hold to love and aimed a wonderful backhand pass past her rival at the net.
Rybakina was put under a lot of strain on her own serve once more as the set nearly got away from her, but she persevered to hold for a 3-2 victory.
But in the opening set, she was unable to convert a single break point on the sun-baked Centre Court, and Jabeur won the set thanks to an error-filled service game.
Jabeur gave a fist pump in jubilation, as Rybakina went back to her seat to reflect on her costly 17 unforced errors.
But as soon as the second set got off, Rybakina broke Jabeur and held on to take a 2-0 lead.
Jabeur had to work hard to maintain contact as Rybakina had now established her rhythm.
The 6-foot-1, 1.84-metre-tall Kazakh, who is only 23 years old, then saved three break points before breaking once again to go up 4-1 when Jabeur’s forehand went long.
Rybakina’s ace brought the score even as Jabeur lamented the set’s four lost break-point possibilities.
In the final, the 17th seed was the first to score, breaking right away to put Jabeur under pressure.
In frustration, the Tunisian lost three break points in the sixth game, which ended up being her final opportunity.