"Always following me" - Ons Jabeur uploads picture of her allotted locker room beside that of Aryna Sabalenka's ahead of US Open
World No. 5 Ons Jabeur recently uploaded a picture of her allotted locker for the upcoming US Open. But the main highlight of the post was Jabeur tagging rival Aryna Sabalenka, whose locker was right above hers.
Jabeur and Sabalenka share a great friendship on and off the court, with both players repeatedly expressing their respect for one another. They are also fond of taking digs at each other, be it before important matches or during off-seasons or vacations.
Jabeur posted the picture on her Instagram story, where she clearly shows the locker numbers. Jabeur has been allotted locker number 214 and Sabalenka has been given the locker number just before hers, number 213.
Just days after their Cincinnati Open semi-final matchup where Sabalenka (7-5, 6-3) got the better of the Tunisian, Jabeur humorously claimed that the Belarusian was "always following her."
"ALWAYS FOLLOWING ME @SABALENKA ARYNA," she captioned the picture.
Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka share a strong bond with each other
Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka have gifted the entire tennis world several classic battles between themselves. The two players have faced off against one another six times so far.
Jabeur has won twice and Sabalenka has picked up the victory on four occasions, with the Cincinnati win being the latest one. After the match, Sabalenka spoke about what a brilliant and tough opponent Jabeur is, and also said the Tunisian always makes it tough for her to win matches.
Even after Jabeur beat Sabalenka in the recently played Wimbledon semis, the Belarusian wished her good luck for the final, expressing hope that she would go all the way against Marketa Vondrousova. Before Wimbledon began, the two stars were also seen practicing with each other.
The bond between the two is seemingly getting stronger with every passing season. Apart from the classic battles they give the tennis world, Jabeur and Sabalenka always try to support each other too.