Wimbledon runner-up in tears Ons Jabeur called her third Grand Slam final defeat as the “most painful” of her career on Saturday, but she promised to bounce back and break her major jinx.
World number six Jabeur was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by unseeded Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, one year after she lost the Wimbledon final to Elena Rybakina.
Later in the year, she finished runner-up again at the US Open, this time to Iga Swiatek.
The 28-year-old is the eighth woman to lose her first three Grand Slam finals, but she should take heart knowing that Chris Evert and Kim Clijsters also went through the same ordeal before going on to win many titles.
“It will be tough to speak. I am going to look ugly in the photos so that’s not going to help,” Jabeur told the Centre Court crowd.
“I think this is the most painful loss of my career.”
She added defiantly: “I promise I will come back one day and win this tournament.”
Jabeur led 2-0 and 4-2 in the first set on Saturday before the 24-year-old Vondrousova hit back.
The Tunisian’s 15 unforced errors in the first set were key as the Czech left-hander committed a miserly six.
Jabeur was 3-1 ahead in the second set but still couldn’t convert the advantage as Vondrousova, who missed last year’s Wimbledon due to wrist surgery, mounted another comeback.
“Congratulations to Marketa. You’re an amazing player. I know you have had a lot of injuries so I am very happy for you,” said Jabeur after her third defeat this year to the Czech.
“It’s going to be a tough day for me today. I’m not going to give up. I’m going to come back stronger and win a Grand Slam one day.”