“I’m going for a Grand Slam this year” – Ons Jabeur aiming for more history after confidence boost in Charleston

The Tunisian trailblazer aka “Minister of Happiness” is hoping to experience the ultimate joy in 2023.

Oct 31, 2022; Forth Worth, TX, USA; Ons Jabeur (TUN) reacts to a point during her match against Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) on day one of the WTA Finals at Dickies Arena. (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

Chris Oddo

April 10, 2023

Ons Jabeur entered this year’s Credit One Open in Charleston followed by an injury cloud. Less than two months removed from a minor surgery on her knee the Tunisian went 1-2 across the Sunshine Double and was not looking poised to make a push for the sports’ biggest titles in 2023.

But a lot can – and did – change in a week. After locking down her fourth career title with an impressive victory over Belinda Bencic on the green clay in South Carolina, the 28-year-old believes she is back on the fast track to her biggest dream.

I’m going for the Grand Slam this year

Jabeur, who has won more matches on clay (38) than any other WTA player since the start of 2020, is reportedly in the process of building a new house in Tunisia. After Sunday’s Charleston final she joked that she will build a big trophy room that is big enough to hold all the titles that she dreams about.

“I’ll manifest the big trophy sets, the Wimbledon one, and other other grand slams that I want to win,” she said.

Ons Jabeur (TUN) poses with the runners up plate at the Wimbledon Championships Image Credit: Action Plus / Panoramic

The world No 4 is not joking about manifesting her dreams. She said that planting a vision of raising the trophy in her mind helped her pass the difficult test that Bencic presented on Sunday.

“If you want to do something, Believe in it and only you can really manifest it,” she told Steve Weissman of Tennis Channel. “Today I was kind of doing that. I was imagining myself holding the trophy. I was imagining myself in the photoshoot after, I was kind of putting the image [in my mind] that I won that title already, and it happened.”

Now that she’s feeling fit again, Jabeur hopes that even bigger titles will soon be coming. She’d like 2023 to be a continuation of her breakout season in 2022, the logical next step after reaching two Grand Slam finals.

What does she need to do to achieve more success on the clay?

“Honestly continue with this attitude and with this game,” she said. “I’m glad that I’m finding my rhythm and I hope my body will allow me to play.

“I’m excited to go to Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome. Clay is really amazing and I love it. I am working on a lot of things. And it’s going my way, so for me: step by step, and I’m going for the Grand Slam this year.”