On Saturday, a first-time women’s Wimbledon champion will be crowned, as Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic takes on No. 6 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia.
If Vondrousova wins, she will become the first unseeded woman to ever do so, and if Jabeur takes home the title, she will become the first African woman in the Open era to earn a Grand Slam singles trophy. Who will win? We asked our experts:
What can Jabeur do to defeat Vondrousova?
Cliff Drysdale: Jabeur needs to get the ball in play on Vondrousova’s serve. She will win most baseline rallies.
Pam Shriver: Jabeur needs to be patient and wait for the right time to attack and the right time to play finesse shots. Vondrousova, a tricky lefty, has a balanced attack with enough slices and drop shots to make anyone feel uneasy. Jabeur will need to adjust her court position often to make sure she strikes the ball at the height most preferred. Jabeur can use her outside serve on deuce court with plus one often to open court to lefty Vondrousova.
Alexandra Stevenson: Jabeur needs to bring her serving skills and her fight to the match. She says she has had her “revenge” this year — with her defeat over Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka. Jabeur will be carrying that momentum into the finals to win. Her slice serve…
