During the first week of Wimbledon Ons Jabeur had to carry the weight of her continent on her back. Now the 27-year-old Tunisian faces the added burden of being the new Wimbledon favourite. But the way she survived five set points before defeating Elise Mertens 7-6 (9), 6-4 in a thriller suggests she has the verve – and nerve – to make history.
It was nervy at times already, especially during the first set. But that was understandable. On the surface this match was for a place in the quarter-finals. But both women understood that it was for far more.
