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A16 SPORTS
Friday 14 July 2023
Ons Jabeur is in a second consecutive Wimbledon final

By HOWARD FENDRICH “I had so many opportu-
AP Tennis Writer nities,” said Sabalenka, a
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) 25-year-old from Belarus
— There was a time a year who was not allowed to
ago; six months ago, even compete at Wimbledon
that Ons Jabeur might not last year because all play-
have recovered from the ers from her country and
deficit she found herself from Russia were banned
in during the Wimbledon over the war in Ukraine.
semifinals. Down a set. “Overall, I didn’t play my
Down a break in the sec- best tennis today. It was
ond set. So close to being just, like, a combo of every-
just a game from defeat. thing. A little bit of nerves,
She credits a sports psy- a little bit of luck for her at
chologist with helping her some points.”
understand how to deal Jabeur trailed 4-2 in the
with those on-court situ- second set when she be-
ations, with managing to gan to turn things around.
keep her focus, keep her But not before Sabalenka
strokes on-target. Thanks in came within a point from
part to that, and a steadi- leading 5-3 after Jabeur
ness down the stretch at put a forehand into the net
Centre Court on Thursday, and fell onto her back on
Jabeur is on her way to a the grass of Centre Court.
second consecutive final Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur celebrates beating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus to win their women’s singles She dusted herself off and
at the All England Club and semifinal match on day eleven of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Thursday, July broke to take that game
her third title match in the 13, 2023. and begin the comeback.
past five Grand Slam tour- Associated Press When she delivered a
naments. reach a major final. drousova, a left-hander England Club last July and backhand return winner to
Now she wants to win a “I’m learning to transform from the Czech Republic, to Iga Swiatek at the U.S. force the match to a third
trophy. The sixth-seeded the bad energy into a good on Saturday. Vondrousova Open last September. set, Jabeur held her right in-
Jabeur earned the right one,” Jabeur said, explain- became the first unseeded Jabeur’s win over No. 2 dex finger to her ear, then
to play for one again by ing that she was able to get women’s finalist at Wimble- Sabalenka, the Austra- raised it and wagged it as
beating big-hitting Aryna over the anger she felt after don since Billie Jean King lian Open champion in she strutted to the change-
Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3. the first set. “Some things I in 1963 by eliminating Elina January, followed victories over.
“I’m very proud of my- have no control over: She Svitolina 6-3, 6-3. against three other major Sabalenka’s shots missed
self, because maybe old can ace any time. She can Like Jabeur, Vondrousova title winners: No. 3 Rybaki- the mark repeatedly. She
me would have lost the hit the big serve, even if I has been to a major final na, No. 9 Petra Kvitova and finished with far more un-
match today and went have a break point. That’s before. Like Jabeur, she’s Bianca Andreescu. forced errors than Jabeur:
back home already. But frustrating a bit. But I’m never won one, having “I want to make my path The margins were 14-5 in
I’m glad that I kept dig- glad that I’m accepting it been the runner-up at the worth it,” Jabeur said. the last set and 45-15 for
ging very deep and finding and I’m digging deep to 2019 French Open as a Thursday’s triumph, which the match.
the strength,” said Jabeur, just go and win this match teen. came by collecting 10 of “I was little bit emotionally

a 28-year-old from Tunisia and, hopefully, this tourna- “We’re both hungry,” Ja- the last 13 games, prevent- down, then she was up,”
who already was the only ment.” beur said. So far, Jabeur is ed Sabalenka from replac- said Sabalenka, who hit 10
Arab woman and only To do that, Jabeur will need 0-2 in Slam finals. She lost to ing Swiatek at No. 1 in the aces but also double-fault-
North African woman to to get past Marketa Von- Elena Rybakina at the All rankings. ed five times. q

ESPN’s Dick Vitale diagnosed with

cancer for a 3rd time

By The Associated Press
Longtime ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale says he has been diagnosed with
cancer for a third time.
Vitale tweeted Wednesday that he had surgery in Boston this week, and tests revealed
that he has vocal cord cancer. He said he will undergo six weeks of radiation treat-
ments.
“I plan to fight like hell to be ready to call games when the college hoops season kicks
off in the fall,” Vitale tweeted, adding that his doctor “feels that scenario is entirely pos-
sible.”
The 84-year-old Vitale has previously been treated for melanoma and lymphoma. He
celebrated being cancer-free in April of last year.
Vitale has been with ESPN since 1979, the year the network launched. He called ESPN’s
first college basketball broadcast. He’s also a longtime fundraiser for cancer research.
Dick Vitale prepares to announce an NCAA college basketball
game between Michigan State and Kentucky, Nov. 15, 2022, in Vitale helped friend Jim Valvano to the stage at the 1993 ESPYs, where Valvano deliv-
Indianapolis. ered his famous “Don’t give up” speech. Valvano died of adenocarcinoma less than
Associated Press two months later.q