Just like in the Roland Garros quarterfinals, when Iga Swiatek met Coco Gauff in a rematch of the 2022 final, the same scenario will unfold at Wimbledon.
In Wednesday’s first quarterfinal on Centre Court, Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur will meet for the first time since they clashed on the same court in last year’s final.
It was a loss that stayed with Jabeur for some time.
“I think the first one or two weeks I thought about it a lot. It was very painful,” said the Tunisian, who won the first set before fading to a three-set defeat in her first major final.
“The good thing about it is I know I gave it everything. I'm someone that believes that it wasn't meant to be, so I cannot force it more than it should be. I'm glad that I have this belief.
“I believe in destiny. It wasn't supposed to be that year. Maybe greater things are coming after that final.”
While a win over Rybakina would not deliver her a long-awaited Grand Slam title, it would put Jabeur closer to winning one.
After overcoming 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in three sets, then two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova in a dominant fourth-round performance, Jabeur lines up against another formidable opponent – who is finding form at just the right time.
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Question marks hovered over Rybakina upon her arrival at the All England Club, as the effects of a virus – which forced her to withdraw from Roland Garros – lingered well into the grass-court season and cut short her preparation.
The world No.3 lost the first set of her opening match on Centre Court against Shelby Rogers, but since then, she has dropped just 14 games to return to the last eight.
“Now I'm feeling much better and more confident coming and playing on Centre Court,” said Rybakina, undefeated in 11 matches at Wimbledon.
“It is different from the first round. I think it was just overall the atmosphere and the nerves to play the first match to get used to the grass, just to play some matches here. I think now mentally I'm much better. Physically also good now.
“Hopefully I just continue like this.”
The images of Rybakina hoisting the Wimbledon trophy have since been accompanied by photos of trophy lifts at Indian Wells and Rome, giving her some of the game’s biggest titles on all three surfaces.
There was also a significant runner-up plate, which she held next to Aryna Sabalenka after their incredible Australian Open 2023 final.
She has become one of the WTA’s unofficial ‘Big Three’ and is increasingly comfortable with her position at the highest level of the game.
“Yeah, of course,” she replied when asked if she “felt” like the defending champion.
“I feel different from the beginning of the year, just because I had really good results. Maybe the last year I didn't finish as I wished I could finish.
“This year, all the results, I think it's not only about Wimbledon, it's just overall how I started the year. Of course, it is different from the last year.”
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Jabeur will be hoping she feels different, too.
The Venus Rosewater Dish we all saw Rybakina holding aloft as last year’s champion? It is the same one Jabeur had saved as a photo on her phone’s lock-screen that fortnight.
While she acknowledged such an act created pressure, she said it was also an essential part of her goal-setting process, reminding her to go after what she so desperately wants.
“(Last year) I was really exhausted like emotionally. I wanted to keep pushing, but I felt little bit empty,” Jabeur admitted.
“My priority (this time) is really to stick 100 per cent to the plan that my coach will give me, and try to even do things that I might not like on the court, play more freely, just think about each point and not the results… I'll try to accept the fact that she serves so good and try to return good and see what I can do there.
“It's like I was born to play tennis and I was born to just achieve this dream. I was telling my mom, I want to win a Grand Slam, I want to be No.1.
“I was a dreamer. I was born this way. I think no matter what you do, to me I'll always believe that I can do anything in this world.”