“I think if it’s meant to be, I’ll get there one day. If it’s not, then I’ll go have a daughter and make her win Wimbledon” – Jabeur on her Grand Slam chase

The Tunisian has been a runner-up at a Major on two occasions but remains confident of becoming a Grand Slam champion

Ons Jabeur at the 2023 Italian Open Image Credit: Inside / Panoramic

May 27, 2023

Twice Ons Jabeur has reached a Grand Slam final and twice she has come up short. The Tunisian has made no secret of her desire to win a Major title but heading into Roland-Garros, where she has never gone past the fourth round, the 28-year-old insists she is not obsessed about it.

“I wasn’t like dreaming of it (winning a Grand Slam) every day, for sure. It’s just I believe in manifesting things. I don’t overdo it, but I believe that it’s there and I’m going get it one day. It wasn’t meant to be last year,” Jabeur told the media in Paris on Friday.

The Tunisian went on to joke that she also had her backup plans in case she does not win a Grand Slam. “I tried everything possible to want it, not overdo it, but to want it and see what’s going to happen. But I think if it’s meant to be, I will get there one day. If it’s not, then I will go have a daughter and make her win Wimbledon. (Laughter.) You always have options. Or my niece. She’s ready.”

I will try to play with the same mindset as for Charleston, because I think it was the best tournament that I played this season.
Ona Jabeur

Jabeur has not had a great start to 2023 after undergoing surgery in February and carries a 11-6 win-loss record, including winning in Charleston, into this year’s French Open. But the Wimbledon and US Open runner-up says she feels physically fit on the eve of the second Major of the year.

“Well, injury-wise I’m feeling much better, and I had a very nice week of training here at the French Open. I’m going to do my best and hopefully do better than last year. But, you know, you always have it in your mind like what if something could happen? But I try not to focus on that. But definitely finding my rhythm. The way I move on the court I feel like is much better. If you have the time to come and watch my practice, I think you’ll see (smiling).”

Jabeur starts her campaign against Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, who plays the Morocco Open final in Rabat on Saturday. “The first match will be hard, because she’s actually on the rise right now. There is no easy first round. I will do my best. The most important thing for me is to be in good health, because it was hard lately with all these injuries that I had sustained. I will try to play with the same mindset as for Charleston, because I think it was the best tournament that I played this season. I will try to keep up and enjoy playing on court.”

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