The image of a warm hug between fierce contenders, that is not contrived or forced, happy humour, genuine smiles has been a constant this Wimbledon season.
When I started watching tennis as a teenager, Steffi Graf was taking over the Women’s Singles with focus and style and then there were many before and after who abused on court, challenged umpires aggressively, threw tantrums and generally made spectacles of themselves.Over the years the game became more power-packed and almost as violent at times as the velocity of balls cut through the air, be it on clay or grass. A muscular game, punctuated by grunts and a whole lot of talent giving birth to sheroes and icons.
But this time, while there are fewer stars, “goodness” has swept across the Centre Court making the classic game more humane. Through several dramatic matches and upsets, what remains steady in the Women’s segment is “heart”. I have not noticed bitterness or wrath at all.
Svitolina vs Swiatek
Elina Svitolina returned to professional tennis after delivering a baby eight months ago Julian Finney/Getty Images
Elina Svitolina beat Iga Swiatek, seeded number one, in a fabulous match. Svitolina was unseeded, a wild card entry, having returned to professional tennis after delivering a baby eight months ago. The two lessons from this match I will always remember – one, that a woman after having a baby can beat the world number one in a power-packed game like tennis (move over bosses at desk jobs who still refrain from hiring women because pregnancies could be a hindrance); and Svitolina’s speech at the end where she acknowledged Swiatek’s support in a charity match for Ukraine earlier, establishing in one stroke that friends could be opponents in sport and allies in life. In a world messed up with violence, these very young icons are true leaders.
Jabeur vs Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (top) reacts after a rally with Ons Jabeur Julian Finney/Getty Images
My favourite since last year, Ons Jabeur, swept aside three top seeds, also beating her nemesis, Aryna Sabalenka, only to admit her human weaknesses and how she was trying to win over herself and be in command over her emotions. She admitted openly that her earlier self might not have been able to overcome the first set loss against Sabalenka. The same girl who broke down after her loss in the finals last year (even after winning the first set, this time lost the first set three times on the road to the final, only to come back and win. Perseverance, control and will power, the three things she worked on other than her game of course. That allowed her to win against Sabalenka and smilingly say: “When I had the match point on her serve, the crowd was cheering for me. I was like, Please, please, don't cheer, she will get angry and she will ace me. She did actually. She got so angry that she aced me!”Sabaleka, a great player in her own right, took to social media to say: “…. Big congrats to @onsjabeur on an incredible performance. I hate you now, but u know I love u anyway! good luck in the final,you got this And I KNOW there’s always…”
The girls follow each other on social media and generously like each other’s posts, in victory and in defeat.
Jabeur: A vibrant, swinging icon for women across types and communities
Ons Jabeur, nicknamed ‘The Minister of Happiness’ back home in Tunisia, is not only a stylish player, but she always smiles Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
I was praying (not sure to which God) for Jabeur, the first African, Arab and Muslim lady tennis player to win Wimbledon this year. Not only is she a stylish player, she always smiles. After all, she is nicknamed “The Minister of Happiness” back home in Tunisia. Her stylish strokes and slices make important statements for all women worldwide. Many firsts are attached to her name – highest-ranking African, Arab female player ever, and to have reached three Grand Slam finals now. I wanted her to win because she has a superb game, and I am a genuine fan, but also for so many other reasons. She is a vibrant, swinging icon for all women across types and communities proving that it's an equal playing field for us human beings.
Alas, Jabeur lost the finals. The elusive Grand Slam! A painful loss for all of us, her fans. But such is tennis, such is sport. Marketa Vondrousova emerged a gracious winner, unseeded and creating history.
Two married women battled for Wimbledon 2023, while their husbands cheered…. Here’s to tennis, and to women whose friendship outdoes everything else. (Navratilova and Chris Evert, even today, in sickness and in health.) Take a bow, young girls, you can change the world.