Tatjana Maria on her semi-final opponent Ons Jabeur: "It's part of the family"
Tatjana Maria (WTA No. 103) is playing for the 2022 Wimbledon final, opposite her is Ons Jabeur, a good friend. A problem?
by Florian Goosmann from Wimbledon
last edit: Jul 06, 2022, 10:58 pm
Tatjana Maria has the next Herculean task ahead of her in the Wimbledon semifinals (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.): After Maria Sakkari (WTA No. 5), Jelena Ostapenko (WTA No. 17), she faces the next top player, Ons Jabeur ( WTA No. 2) but also the best placed so far.
Is it good or bad that Maria and Jabeur know each other really well? Maria had described her as part of the family on the pitch after the victory over Jule Niemeier, they had known each other for ages, she said later in a press conference. Jabeur speaks French, Maria's husband (and coach) Charles Edouard is from France, Maria and Jabeur have already played league games together. "And she loves kids, she almost sees my kids as her kids," explained Maria, "so she's actually part of our family. When she sees Charlotte, she plays tennis with her; when she sees Cici, she's her baby. .. We get along really well."
Is it difficult to play against someone you like so much? "I think we're so professional that we'll go out there and try to play our best," Maria said. Of course everyone wants to win, "but after that everything is fine again."
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Ons Jabeur hopes for Maria's daughter Charlotte
Jabeur herself got into the friendship chants after her hard-fought win over Marie Bouzkova. She has already joked with Maria's daughter Charlotte and asked if she would support - her or her mom? "I try to get all the kids on my side," she joked.
Of course, the question is also about nerves, for both Maria and Jabeur it is the first semi-final in a Grand Slam tournament; for Maria also the first appearance on the Center Court this year.
She has already played two matches in the past on what is perhaps the most famous green in the world, once against Kristina Mladenovic and once against Angelique Kerber, both of which were lost. "A great place, unfortunately I lost twice. Hopefully it will work out the third time," she said and laughed.
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