Ons Jabeur opens up about her "love" for idol Kim Clijsters, says meeting Belgian icon was "special"
World No.7 Ons Jabeur cruised to a commanding victory in her French Open opener, defeating unseeded Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-1. Jabeur's near-flawless performance secured her a spot in the tournament's second round.
After a season filled with ups and downs, including a minor knee surgery and a calf problem that forced her to skip the Madrid Open, Jabeur is focused on securing her first-ever Grand Slam title. But in her post-match press conference, Jabeur also expressed her deep love and admiration for Kim Clijsters.
The Tunisian recalled how even after a two-year break from tennis, Clijsters displayed an exceptional level of skill and dedication upon her return.
"For me, I love Kim Clijsters. I heard like when she doesn't play for like two years, when she pick up the racquet it was like she was training every day. That's a quality I don't think a lot of tennis players or any tennis player has that," Ons Jabeur said.
Jabeur also reminisced about meeting Clijsters, calling it a "special" experience.
"I had the opportunity and the chance to meet her, so that's even more special for me. So yeah, I really love Kim (smiling)," she said.
"I'm happy that I'm healthy and I'm moving well on the court" - Ons Jabeur
Ons Jabeur also talked about her tough first-round match against Lucia Bronzetti, where she gave her best to win in straight sets. She added that she was focused on returning to top form gradually through more matches, and that she was pleased with her current health and movement on the court.
"Yeah, it wasn't an easy round, for sure, but I tried my best to win in two sets. Obviously I'm trying to get back to my level 100%, and I think that will come match by match and by playing more matches. But I'm happy that I'm healthy and I'm moving well on the court," she said.
The Tunisian said she felt stressed but was focused on playing her game, before adding that the most important thing for her was to prioritize her health.
"You know, like every first round is very difficult in a Grand Slam. I was pretty stressed, I've got to say, but I was just trying to play my game. The most important thing for me was to feel healthy and to move well on the court," she said.
The match was a valuable learning experience for Jabeur, who aims to gain more match practice and remain optimistic about her performance in the tournament.
"But yeah, it was a good game. I will definitely learn from it and prepare for the next games. You know, let's see, I need few matches in, and hopefully I can get that here," Ons Jabeur said.