LONDON: in tears Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur Saturday described his third loss in a Grand Slam final as the “most painful” of his career, but vowed to bounce back and break his spell at the majors.
World number six Jabeur was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by an unranked Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic, a year after losing the Wimbledon final to Elena Rybakina.
More pain followed at the US Open later that year where she was runner-up again, this time ahead of Iga Swiatek.
The 28-year-old is the eighth woman to lose her first three Grand Slam finals, although she can take comfort in knowing that Chris Evert and Kim Clijsters suffered the same fate before winning multiple titles.
“It’ll be hard to talk. I’m going to look ugly in the pictures, so that won’t help,” Jabeur told the center court crowd.
“I think this is the most painful loss of my career.”
She added defiantly, “I promise to come back one day and win this tournament.”
Jabeur led 2-0 and 4-2 in the first set on Saturday before Vondrousova, 24, replied.
The Tunisian’s 15 unforced errors in the first set were crucial as the Czech southpaw committed a bad six.
Jabeur led 3-1 in the second set but still couldn’t convert the advantage as Vondrousova, who missed Wimbledon last year due to wrist surgery, made another comeback.
“Congratulations to Marketa. You are an amazing player. I know you had a lot of injuries so I’m very happy for you,” Jabeur said after her third loss this year against the Czech.
“It’s going to be a tough day for me today. I’m not going to give up. I’m going to come back stronger and win a Grand Slam one day.”
World number six Jabeur was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by an unranked Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic, a year after losing the Wimbledon final to Elena Rybakina.
More pain followed at the US Open later that year where she was runner-up again, this time ahead of Iga Swiatek.
The 28-year-old is the eighth woman to lose her first three Grand Slam finals, although she can take comfort in knowing that Chris Evert and Kim Clijsters suffered the same fate before winning multiple titles.
“It’ll be hard to talk. I’m going to look ugly in the pictures, so that won’t help,” Jabeur told the center court crowd.
“I think this is the most painful loss of my career.”
She added defiantly, “I promise to come back one day and win this tournament.”
Jabeur led 2-0 and 4-2 in the first set on Saturday before Vondrousova, 24, replied.
The Tunisian’s 15 unforced errors in the first set were crucial as the Czech southpaw committed a bad six.
Jabeur led 3-1 in the second set but still couldn’t convert the advantage as Vondrousova, who missed Wimbledon last year due to wrist surgery, made another comeback.
“Congratulations to Marketa. You are an amazing player. I know you had a lot of injuries so I’m very happy for you,” Jabeur said after her third loss this year against the Czech.
“It’s going to be a tough day for me today. I’m not going to give up. I’m going to come back stronger and win a Grand Slam one day.”
