Oh, how a tennis match can swing. So silent earlier in the day as Elina Svitolina’s hopes collapsed in front of their eyes, the Centre Court crowd came alive as they looked to revive Ons Jabeur’s Wimbledon dream. And ultimately, all it took was one customary cackle.
The Tunisian, who once more has become the story of the SW19 fortnight, needed a spark out of nothing. Down – but not out – against world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka, last year’s finalist was the wrong side of a set and a break and staring down the barrel once more. But at deuce, Sabalenka serving at 4-3 up in the second set, Jabeur received her goblet of liquid luck.
