Interview: Patient Jabeur expects to hit top form in summer

The Tunisian said she expects to be playing her best in the second half of the year

Ons Jabeur 2024 – Gepa / Panoramic

January 12, 2025

Ons Jabeur readily admits she does not have the best record at the Australian Open, one quarter-final a surprisingly small return for her obvious talent and certainly well off her superb results elsewhere.

“I have a weird relationship here,” the 30-year-old said in an interview. “It was the first Grand Slam that I made quarter-finals and then nothing happened. I feel like maybe I give it all at the end of the year and I’m pretty exhausted, and I try to recharge.

“Maybe the jet lag doesn’t help as well, it is pretty far. I don’t get as much support as I get when I’m closer to my home, with the time difference and everything. I don’t know, maybe I can change that this year.”

🔵@Ons_Jabeur practices in Melbourne on Saturday pic.twitter.com/kaq9D86NZJ
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) January 11, 2025

Second half of season key for Jabeur

The Tunisian is hoping to hit the ground running in her first slam back after injury but is also trying to be patient, knowing that nothing is guaranteed. Now ranked No 40, having begun 2024 as the world No 6, Jabeur is keeping expectations low but knows that as the season goes on, she’s likely to hit top form.

“It may take time, and it could not take time, because I need to remember that I was there once,” she said. “You know, I was a solid player. Not everybody could beat me, and that is very important to me. Actually, I was talking to Gael (Monfils) about this, and I he told me, no, if you have the level, you will get it (back) eventually. If it’s there, it’s there, you know. He’s right.

“I think I like the second half of the year (best. Obviously, the clay court (season) is unbelievable preparation for the grass court (season), because physically, I play a lot of matches, I feel ready. I feel more confident and ready to play Wimbledon and you’re still physically ready to play amazing at the US Open, it’s very fun to play there.”

“I played through injury and sickness”

Though she reached the quarter-finals at the French Open last year, Jabeur was battling on and off-court issues all season, struggling for full fitness and finding it hard to cope with the harrowing scenes from Gaza. If she had the chance to play the year again, she said, she would probably have played less, taking more rest, but a desire to push on left her short on energy, while a shoulder injury eventually curtailed her season after Canada in August.

“I did play through injury,” she admitted. “And sickness as well. I was sick most of the time, I think. I wasn’t helping a lot my immune system, my recovery system as well. So I think that that also didn’t help with
how I was feeling.

“It’s a roller-coaster, a tennis career, I feel like it’s a roller coaster, but I’m very grateful for every moment that I have, and I’m definitely learning from it. And the good thing is I have, maybe I have more experience now than the other years.”

“If Novak wants to share Andy, I would definitely do it”

Jabeur is one of Andy Murray’s favourite players to watch and the three-time Grand Slam runner-up said she was intrigued by the Scot’s transition from player to coach and his partnership with Novak Djokovic.

“I was laughing,” she said, of her reaction when hearing the news. “Actually, it was so much fun to see them both. I’m not really surprised. I can see Andy and Novak communicating a lot. Obviously, they have known each other a lot of time. I think Andy will be in tennis like for a long time. He loves the sport. He loves everything, you know, even if he said he doesn’t.

“I think it’s going to be very interesting to see how can Andy really help Novak. Some things that maybe he saw as a player against him, that would be very interesting. It’s nice to see that another player is supporting another player. It’s very nice to put the ego aside. I can see myself doing that.”

And Jabeur said she would be more than open to the idea if Murray ever wants to coach on the WTA Tour.

“If Novak could share him, I would definitely do it,” she said. “Who doesn’t want Andy? For sure. I never really spoke to him, except fantasy league, yeah, of course. But otherwise, maybe we speak about some tactics, about tennis.”