LONDON: Anas Jabeur is hoping for a third time lucky when she tries to become the first African or Arab woman to win a Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon on Saturday.

The 28-year-old of Tunisia faces Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, hoping to be better than last year when she was defeated by Elena Rybakina in the final at the All England Club and lost to world number one Iga Swiatek. The US Open later in the year.

In contrast to her last two losses at Grand Slams, world number six Jabeur will start this time as the heavy favorite against left-handed Vondrousova, the first unseeded woman in a Wimbledon final in 60 years.

She had a tough match on Saturday, upsetting former two-time winner Petra Kvitova in the round of 16, third seed Rybakina in the quarterfinals, then coming back from a set down to knock out second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.

In doing so, she became the first woman to defeat three top 10 players at Wimbledon since Serena Williams in 2012.

But she said she couldn’t take her eyes off the ball on Saturday, even though she’s dealing with a player well below the rank of No. 42 in the world.

“I think the final is a final,” Jaber said. “You play with someone, Grand Slam champion or not. I think it will be very difficult.

“It can happen to both of them. Whoever can handle more emotions, whoever can be more prepared on the field, will definitely win that match.

“I want to make my way worth it, beating all these Grand Slam champions to be in the final. Yeah, I’m going to be full, and I hope it works out this time.”

Only six women have lost all of their first three Grand Slam finals, although two of those – Chris Evert and Kim Clijsters – eventually made up for lost time.

Jabeur shone in her class on Saturday, with 28 wins on the grass tour since 2021, matching former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova between 2004 and 2006.

However, Jabeur lost twice in 2023 to Vondrousova, in the second round of the Australian Open and the third round in Miami.

“I’m going to get my revenge. I haven’t won against her this year. She has good hands.” She is playing very well, said Jabeur of an opponent who appeared in her last Grand Slam final after finishing second at the 2019 French Open.

Vondrousova, whose run at Wimbledon has secured her return to the world’s top 20 next week, was an injured bystander at the 2022 tournament as she turned to watching a friend try to qualify for the main draw.

A second surgery on her wrist ruled her out for six months although her absence from the tour at least allowed her the space and time to get married.

She is the second-lowest-ranked player to reach a Wimbledon final – only Serena Williams in 2018 was ranked lowest at 181.

Like Jabeur, the 24-year-old Czech had to fight hard to reach the final.

She defeated only four consecutive finalists to reach the semifinals, defeating Veronika Kudmitova, Donna Vekić, Marie Bouzkova and Jessica Pegula.

Against fourth seed Pegula from the United States, she was trailing 1-4 in the final set.

In Thursday’s semi-final, she swept crowd favorite Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in two comfortable sets.

“For me, it’s really crazy that this could happen. I think anything can happen in tennis,” she said.