LONDON: Ons Jabeur’s career record would suggest she prefers the clay. After all, she reached the final of the Girls Singles at the French Open two years on the bounce, winning the title in 2011 while her best-ever Grand Slam performance came at Roland Garros last year when she reached the third round. But the Tunisian just loves playing on grass.
She was always told her slice-and-dice game was perfect for it, and she vividly remembers the first time she played on a grass court, as a 15-year-old in a junior tournament in Halle, Germany in 2010.
“The courts weren’t that good,” she said. “But you either click or not and it was a good beginning for me on grass. Everyone tells me that my game is good for grass. I like when I put on the shoes, since I like football. When I put on the grass shoes I feel like I’m a football player, which gives me more energy to run and get all the balls.”
Jabeur’s liking for grass is interesting as there are no grass tennis courts in Tunisia, “only football pitches,” which makes her achievement this week in becoming the first Arab woman to win a main draw match at Wimbledon in 13 years all the more impressive.
Her victory on Monday over Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the first round at the All England Club, marked the first time an Arab woman advanced to the Wimbledon second round since Jabeur’s compatriot Selima Sfar did so in 2005.
Jabeur practiced with Sfar — now retired and working as a tennis commentator — for a few days in Aorangi Park ahead of Wimbledon, and the duo have developed a friendship over the past couple of years. Sfar was delighted to see her protege match her achievement this week.
“I think it’s amazing,” said Sfar. “At the time I didn’t realize what I was doing when I was the first Arab woman to go to the second round of Wimbledon and today I see that it’s like I opened the way and she’s going through that way very smoothly. Usually when you open the way it’s for someone to do better and to use your experience to go higher and then she’ll do the same for the next one coming. I really believe in this, this gives a very good opportunity and hope for Arab women to come after us.”
Jabeur became just the second Arab woman behind Sfar to crack the top 100 last season, but she dropped dramatically in the rankings this year after a rocky first half of 2018.
She slipped nearly 100 spots between January and June, a period that saw her team up with a new coach, Frenchman Bertrand Perret. While the work with Perret did not immediately translate into results, Jabeur still felt like she was making progress. Having her husband, Tunisian-Russian fencer Karim Kamoun, as her fitness trainer and part of her team also helped. After losing in the second round of French Open qualifying in May, Jabeur immediately shifted her focus to the grass. A drop-shot queen with real weapons that are tailored for this surface, Jabeur won a $100k tournament on the lawns of Manchester, without dropping a set. Wimbledon came calling a few hours later and offered her a main draw wildcard.
She would be playing Wimbledon for a second straight season, but unlike last year, she would not have to go through the grind of the qualifying rounds, played at Roehampton, a short car ride away from the All England Club.
Jabeur, who lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova on her Wimbledon debut last year, approached the tournament differently this time around, and was determined to go as far as possible.
“I feel better this year, more confident actually, more fresh coming like this,” she said ahead of her first round at Wimbledon this week. “I feel like I’m more mature in my head compared to last year. Even though my results haven’t been as good as they were last year but I feel like I’m more comfortable on the court, I know what I’m doing, I know if I make a mistake what’s wrong with me.”
Jabeur showcased great fighting spirit in her comeback win in the first round against Golubic, who had lost to the Tunisian twice in the previous three weeks. She was far more dangerous in their third encounter, but the 23-year-old Jabeur came through in three sets to post her first-ever win at SW19.
There was heartbreak in the second round though, where she faced Czech world No. 42 Katerina Siniakova. Jabeur entered the match having lost all four previous matches against Siniakova, but the head-to-head record went out of the window when Jabeur took the first set, then went up 5-2 in the third. Despite holding a match point and serving for the match, Jabeur managed to lose 5-7, 6-4, 9-7.
Jabeur admitted it was a “painful” defeat but she is already thinking about what she needs to work on, to avoid letting victory slip away from her like that again. She has her eyes on the US Open, and will be playing a clay event in Budapest next week in an effort to raise her ranking and make the cut for the main draw in New York.
“Apparently my season just started for me, because I was just kind of a tourist at the beginning,” said Jabeur. “I feel more motivated to play more and more tournaments, which is the opposite of last year. Last year, by now I was tired and wanted to stop the season. So for me it’s good, I’m motivated to continue and play more and more tournaments.”
Jabeur turned heads at Wimbledon, including that of Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.
“I love her, she is so sweet, so fun, such a nice person to have around,” said the Frenchman, who has an academy where Jabeur briefly trained. “I think she has a fantastic game. She has a lot of touch, she can do anything on a tennis court with her game. But I don’t think she has used her full potential yet.”
Jabeur knows that more than anyone and looks like she’s finally ready to do something about it.
Tunisia star Ons Jabeur ‘motivated’ by her history-making Wimbledon showing
Tunisia star Ons Jabeur ‘motivated’ by her history-making Wimbledon showing
- Jabeur has shown she can play on grass and clay
- 'I’m motivated to continue and play more and more tournaments'
Late Nandez winner keeps Al-Qadsiah’s title hopes alive
- Al-Qadsiah move to 47 points, 3 behind leaders Al-Hilal, who are yet to play on Matchday 22
- Al-Taawoun fairytale run loses steam as Pericles Chamusca’s side continue difficult spell
RIYADH: All signs pointed to an unlikely title charge for Al-Qadsiah when they held Al-Hilal to a 2-2 draw in Dammam at the end of January.
Since then, it has been a testing period for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
While they remain unbeaten under the Northern Irishman, Al-Qadsiah have struggled to replicate their earlier intensity as fatigue begins to take its toll.
Despite those challenges, Al-Qadsiah have collected seven points from their last nine, with a dramatic late winner from Nahitan Nandez securing a valuable 1-0 victory over a resilient NEOM side. The road to those three points was anything but easy.
Al-Qadsiah should have been ahead inside three minutes. A high press initiated by Julian Quinones and Mateo Retegui forced NEOM goalkeeper Luis Maximiano into a costly error, with his attempted clearance falling straight to the Italian. The 2024/25 Serie A top scorer struck the post with the goal at his mercy, allowing NEOM to breathe a sigh of relief.
What followed was a tactical battle between Rodgers and Christophe Galtier.
The hosts made a few changes from their previous outing, with Nandez occupying the right flank instead of Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, while Ali Hazazi slotted into midfield.
NEOM mirrored the system, with their wingers tracking Nandez and Christopher Bonsu Baah as they dropped into a 5-4-1 defensive shape. Faris Abdi was a key outlet for the visitors, surging down the left flank on multiple occasions to support Luciano Rodriguez and Alexandre Lacazette.
It was Rodriguez and Lacazette who fashioned NEOM’s most dangerous chances of the night.
In the 38th minute, Koen Casteels denied Rodriguez with a powerful save. Minutes later, a cutback found Lacazette inside the box, but Casteels was again equal to the effort.
The Belgian emerged as the standout performer, making seven saves to keep Al-Qadsiah in contention. His efforts almost went unrewarded, however, as Retegui failed to convert further chances and Quinones endured his first game in 10 without a goal contribution.
Al-Qadsiah eventually grabbed the winner in the dying moments when a cross from Bonsu Baah was flicked on by new signing Waleed Al-Ahmed into the path of Nandez. The Uruguayan powered home what could prove to be the most valuable goal of the season, keeping Al-Qadsiah firmly in the title hunt.
Elsewhere, Damac enjoyed a perfect start under new manager Fabio Carille, as the Knights from the South secured their second win of the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Al-Taawoun.
Yakou Meite scored twice to give Damac their first win since late December, while Al-Taawoun drifted further from the top four after another match without victory.
The result moves Damac three points clear of Al-Riyadh in 16th place, easing immediate relegation concerns.
Meanwhile, Omar Al-Somah continued his pursuit of the all-time Saudi Pro League scoring record with a late winner for Al-Hazem. The hosts defeated Al-Okhdood 2-1 to climb temporarily into 11th, 12 points clear of the drop zone.
Saudi Pro League action returns on Friday, with Al-Shabab hosting Al-Ahli in Riyadh, Al-Hilal welcoming Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad facing Al-Fayha to close out the day’s action.
