8.27 pm: Well, that was an incredible fightback by Rybakina to win the last two sets this emphatically. It wasn’t to be for Jabeur, who has been playing so well and looked in such control in the first set. But all credit to the Kazakh for handling pressure better and being more consistent.
RYBAKINA IS THE CHAMPION – Ons Jabeur 6-3, 2-6, 2-6 Elena Rybakina
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 2-6, 2-5 Elena Rybakina: SERVICE BREAK! That should be that? A crushing blow for Jabeur as she gets broken for the second time in the set, this after failing to convert three break points. Rybakina is dictating play with her forehand, which is just so versatile, and she is now just one game away from her first Grand Slam title.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 2-6, 2-4 Elena Rybakina: HUGE opportunity missed by Jabeur! She had three consecutive break points but Rybakina wins five straight points to close out the game. Jabeur hit a sublime drop shot and lob in that game to set up the break points but Rybakina showing great composure once again.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 2-6, 2-3 Elena Rybakina: Jabeur holds to 15 to stay within touching distance of Rybakina. The Kazakh with a couple of unforced errors from strong positions in that game.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 2-6, 1-3 Elena Rybakina: Jabeur had a look at 30-40 but Rybakina holds serve with a blazing backhand cross court winner. The Tunisian looks at her team pensively as the crowd eggs her on. She has to make a move soon.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 2-6, 1-2 Elena Rybakina: Jabeur holds and the crowd erupts! The Tunisian is clearly trying all she can and perhaps just needs to a few minutes of momentum to get back in this.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 2-6, 0-2 Elena Rybakina: Jabeur had an opening at 15-30 but attempted a lob she perhaps shouldn’t have. Rybakina manages to hold. The crowd is getting behind Jabeur, perhaps they can sense this could end in a hurry.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 2-6, 0-1 Elena Rybakina: SERVIVE BREAK! Rybakina starts the third set too with a break of serve! What a sensational turnaround this has been. Jabeur guilty of being too passive and the Kazakh taking full toll.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 2-6 Elena Rybakina: RYBAKINA WINS THE SECOND SET! We are going to a decider! A confident hold from the Kazakh to storm into the third set. Jabeur had it all going and was dictating play but all credit to Rybakina for showing great character and hanging in there. A one-set shoot-off for the title can test the best and these two players are competing in their first Grand Slam final. This match could still go either way.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 2-5 Elena Rybakina: Important hold there for Jabeur, she managed to land a few first serves. Rybakina will now serve for the set with new balls.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 1-5 Elena Rybakina: And now a quick hold for Rybakina. She’s found great rhythm and is hitting her spots wonderfully. Jabeur has her back to the wall and looks tentative out there. She would want to hold here and make Rybakina serve for the set.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 1-4 Elena Rybakina: SERVICE BREAK! Rybakina goes double break up. Who would have seen this coming! Jabeur continues to go for her shots but she’s lost her range and is hitting them long consistently. She could well make a comeback but Rybakina has the edge at the moment after showing great composure to fight back.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 1-3 Elena Rybakina: Long, long game that and Rybakina manages to save three break points before holding serve. Both players are producing moments of brilliance, especially with the forehand, but they’re being pegged back by unforced errors. It’s such a close battle at the moment.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 1-2 Elena Rybakina: That was a super entertaining game! Jabeur with a delicate cross court forehand winner with her opponent at the net, before Rybakina produced an incredible dig running forward to get to deuce. The Kazakh then hit a blazing cross court backhand winner off a second serve before producing another incredible dig, this time running at full tilt and getting it across Jabeur, to get a break point. But Jabeur showed composure to close it out and get on the scoreboard in the second set.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 0-2 Elena Rybakina: Rybakina consolidates the break, just about. She had a game point and her shot was called long, she didn’t opt for a challenge and the replay showed the ball hand landed well in. But the Kazakh regrouped impressively and saved a break point before closing out the game.
Ons Jabeur 6-3, 0-1 Elena Rybakina: SERVICE BREAK! Well, well, what do you know! Rybakina breaks to start the second set. Jabeur with some unexpected errors in that game, while the Kazakh went for her shots and even nailed a blazing forehand winner down the line. Game on!
Ons Jabeur 6-3 Elena Rybakina: JABUER WINS THE FIRST SET! Rybakina’s serve broken for the second time in the set, this time to love. She crashed one into the net again from close range and kept making errors. She seemed to be finding some rhythm but losing eight straight points will surely weigh on her mind at the start of the second set.
Ons Jabeur 5-3 Elena Rybakina: Jabeur holds to love. Rybakina crashed one into the net from point blank range in that game... a definite sign of nerves which would have only gotten worse after that. But she will be determined to hold serve now and force Jabeur to serve for the set.
Ons Jabeur 4-3 Elena Rybakina: Now a quick hold for Rybakina. Jabeur is looking to get on the offensive but she hit a couple of shots long in that game. The Kazakh is doing well to hang in there in this first set after getting broken early. This surely isn’t a one-sided contest at the moment.
Ons Jabeur 4-2 Elena Rybakina: Another relatively quick hold for Jabeur. Rybakina managed to get to 30 but the Tunisian closed it out with a big serve and a precise groundstroke.
Ons Jabeur 3-2 Elena Rybakina: Much better from Rybakina, She lands her powerful groundstrokes and hurries Jabeur to draw errors. The Tunisian then gets a sharp angle on her return off a second serve to get to deuce, before painting the baseline with a second serve forehand return. But Rybakina manages to save a couple of break points and close out the game. Jabeur perhaps guilty of trying too much in that game and making mistakes.
Ons Jabeur 3-1 Elena Rybakina: And now a quick hold from Jabeur. She produced a stunning backhand cross court winner in that game with Rybakina at the net. The Tunisian is serving big and showing no hesitation in going for her shots.
Ons Jabeur 2-1 Elena Rybakina: SERVICE BREAK! Jabeur makes the first move with some smart play. Deep service returns from her force Rybakina to make errors, and the Tunisian follows that up by being patient in consecutive rallies and getting the break. Perhaps some nerves from Rybakina there.
Ons Jabeur 1-1 Elena Rybakina: Jabeur lands a couple of big first serves too to make her way to 40-15 before Rybakina launches a superb return winner. But the Kazakh hits a backhand wide then as the Tunisian gets on the scoreboard too.
Ons Jabeur 0-1 Elena Rybakina: Big first serves by Rybakina to get us underway. She gets to 40-0 before Jabeur manages to get into rallies and draws consecutive error. But the Kazakh gets on the scoreboard with a huge forehand winner.
6.38 pm: The toss is done and Jabeur opted to receive. The warmups are done too and we’re ready for play!
6.30 pm: The players make their way to the court and the Centre Court crowd erupts. Jabeur followed by Rybakina. What an experience this must be for these two first-time Grand Slam finalists.
Route to the final
| Round | Ons Jabeur | Elena Rybakina |
|---|---|---|
| First | bt Mirjam Bjorklund 6-1, 6-3 | bt CoCo Vandeweghe 7-6 (2), 7-5 |
| Second | bt Katarzyna Kawa 6-4, 6-0 | bt Bianca Andreescu 6-4, 7-6 (5) |
| Third | bt Diane Parry 6-2, 6-3 | bt Qinwen Zheng 7-6 (4), 7-5 |
| Fourth | bt Elise Mertens 7-6 (9), 6-4 | bt Petra Martic 7-5, 6-3 |
| Quarterfinals | bt Marie Bouzkova 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 | bt Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 |
| Semifinals | bt Tatjana Maria 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 | bt Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3 |
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the Wimbledon 2022 women’s singles final.
A historic Wimbledon women’s singles final in the Open Era. Ons Jabeur became the first African woman to reach a Grand Slam final in the modern era when she beat close friend Tatjana Maria, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the semi-finals. She will face Russian-born Elena Rybakina, now representing Kazakhstan, for the title on Saturday.
This will the first time in Open Era that the Wimbledon WS final features a first-time Grand Slam finalist on both sides of the net.