Ons Jabeur battles rain, defeats Bianca Andreescu to secure spot in Wimbledon last 16

Ons Jabeur, the sixth seed from Tunisia, triumphed over Canada’s Bianca Andreescu to advance to the fourth round of Wimbledon. Jabeur expressed gratitude to the rain, which allowed her to regroup after losing the first set.

Despite a single break costing Jabeur the opening set, she showcased her resilience by securing a break of her own in the second set, leveling the match. Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion, initially took the lead in the deciding set with a 3-1 advantage. However, Jabeur swiftly broke back, resulting in a 3-2 scoreline when rain interrupted play.

After a thorough inspection conducted under the roof, the match recommenced. The pivotal moment arrived in the ninth game, as the 28-year-old Jabeur secured a decisive break to love against her 50th-ranked opponent. She sealed her hard-fought victory with an ace, clinching a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.

Jabeur’s next challenge will be a clash against the two-time champion Petra Kvitova in the last 16. Reflecting on her performance, she attributed her success partly to the rain, which allowed her to consult with her coach and gain perspective on the match. Jabeur acknowledged that she didn’t deliver her best tennis during the encounter.

Notably, Jabeur made history last year as the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam women’s singles final, where she also reached the final at the US Open. Returning to Centre Court after a painful defeat to Elena Rybakina in 2022, Jabeur described the experience as emotional and expressed her love for the vibrant energy and beauty of the venue. She hopes to return and compete in more matches on this iconic stage in the future.