Ons Jabeur aims for historic premiere
Ons Jabeur has a historic opportunity with her participation in the Australian Open. She would be the first African winner in the history of the happy slam.
by Victoria Moser
last edit:
Jan 15, 2023, 05:39 pm
Ons Jabeur, who recently lost to Czech teenager Linda Noskova in the Adelaide International quarter-finals, says she is feeling very good about the first of the four major tournaments of the tennis year. Your goal is not to lose any more finals. Jabeur, who is second at the Australian Open, almost had a hand on the trophy in 2022. Both at Wimbledon, when she lost to Elena Rybakina 6: 3, 2: 6, 2: 6, and in New York, where she lost in straight sets to world number one Iga Swiatek.
Experience will help her
In the press conference before the Australian Open, the 28-year-old said: "I always try to adapt to the different surfaces. Of course I like the hard court here in Melbourne. I'll try to use my experience from last year because it was tough.” Jabeur shines above all in placing her shots well placed on the pitch. Since winning the Madrid Open in 2017, she has won 11 times against top ten players. "I feel like there's not a lot of pressure on me in this tournament. I'll just try to play my game, be there match after match and then see what happens," she commented.
Jabeur writes history
The "Minister of Happiness", as she is known in her home country, is a pioneer in African and Arabic tennis. She is the first Arab player - male or female - to rank in the top ten in the world and reach a Grand Slam final. In the history of the Australian Open, no African player has been named on the Daphne Akhurst Memorail Cup. And the Tunisian goes on: "I want to be number one in the world. It's not just the number, but the discipline that goes with it. I want to win more titles and certainly get a Grand Slam title as well.”
Her first-round opponent on Tuesday will be Tamara Zidansek (98) of Slovenia, who was in the top 25 players last February.