A year too late, but Jabeur has her Rybakina revenge

Ons Jabeur, the Minister of Happiness staying true to her nickname, is never too far away from a joke. In the pre-tournament press conference ahead of this Wimbledon, the finalist of last year spoke in jest about feeling like taking off the picture of Elena Rybakina, the champion who beat her, from the walls of the locker room.

- Rutvick Mehta

The statement may have been made in a lighter vein, yet that defeat did weigh heavily on the Tunisian's mind. Not just in the immediate aftermath of it but even 12 months later. The moment she brushed past Petra Kvitova, Jabeur signalled, in no uncertain terms, that she was seeking revenge in her rematch with the defending champion.

The photo might still be around but Rybakina won't be, with Jabeur herself going a step closer to placing her picture there while wiping away the "difficult" memories of last year.

In a first meeting between two former women finalists in a Wimbledon quarter-final since 1969, Jabeur out-muscled the powerful world No. 3 from a set down to come out a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1 winner and set up a semi-final with second seed Aryna Sabalenka. Almost everything in Wednesday's quarter-final contrasted with last year's final, which Rybakina won 3-6, 6-2, 6-2: holder of the first strike in the three-set duel, engineer of the turnaround retaliation tale, Rybakina's serve efficiency, Jabeur's unwavering mental poise.