THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 12, 2023

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

O. JABEUR/E. Rybakina

6-7, 6-4, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Ons Jabeur.

Ons, back into the semifinals. How does that feel?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, feels great. Crazy match. Difficult match. But I'm glad that I got the win this time.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You said in your previous interview that you wanted to follow the plan of the coach 200%. Did you follow the plan today?

ONS JABEUR: The coach said I followed the plan 70%, which is a high percentage.

It was very tough. Sometimes someone like Elena pushes you to play different plans. But I'm glad that I did stick to the one we agreed on. Even though there were very difficult moments, she was putting a lot of pressure on me, she was hitting amazing. I'm very, very glad that I stayed focused. Turned the anger at the beginning, last set actually, third set was much better, and the anger there was like more me focusing and taking command of the game.

Q. In what ways do you think you've improved from this time last year, getting this far into the tournament? Where is the improvement in your game?

ONS JABEUR: I think there is few aspects. A lot of experience, dealing with different situations in matches, learning how to handle it. That helped me a lot with the game today.

I think I'm hitting better. I'm more confident in my shots. Serve-wise I think it's getting better. And definitely needs to get better, especially playing players like her or Aryna. You always need to be, like, serving great.

But most of all I think I was hitting, like, fast. If you want to hit hard, I'm ready to hit hard, too (smiling).

Q. You said out on the court that you kind of wish you could exchange this one for last year's. Is there slight mixed feelings?

ONS JABEUR: Yes and no because I believe last year maybe I wasn't ready to play this kind of match. I don't regret last year. It happened for a reason. I always say it. It was meant to be this year. It was meant to be in the quarterfinals.

I have learned a lot from the final last year. Definitely very proud of myself for the improvement that I did mentally, physically, and with the tennis racquet.

Q. How did you deal with going into this match mentally? How happy were you with how you dealt with going a set down?

ONS JABEUR: Well, mentally honestly I was going and had nothing to lose. Especially after losing first set, I didn't care. I went for every shot. I was with Martina Navratilova. She gave me some stats. She told me I hit 13 winners and only 3 unforced errors. I was like, Whoa, is this me really?

The way I played, I felt so free on the court. I felt like I believe in these stages of the semifinal, the finals in a Grand Slam. It's definitely getting closer of getting my wish done.

I don't regret anything. I'm doing 100% from every aspect. Let's see.

Q. You seem to be quite a crowd favorite. How do you feel about that? How do you feel about the support that you're getting back home? What have you heard from family and friends back home, people in Tunisia following your progress?

ONS JABEUR: I always spoke of the connection between me and the crowd. I believe the crowd gives me the great energy. Thank God they're not against me. Or maybe if they are, it could be a good thing that I can turn the energy into a good one.

People from home, honestly I'm receiving a lot of messages. I don't know. I haven't spoken to my family yet. But, yeah, they're very happy. I know they're following. Hopefully this time I can go all the way and really make Tunisia and Africa proud.

Q. How much was last year on your mind when you stood behind the screens, next to Elena, the same player again, or when you stood at the net doing the coin toss? Is it on your mind, last year, at that point?

ONS JABEUR: A little bit. When we entered the court, felt like a similar feeling of playing same match against her. But I made sure I changed seats this time. I went for the other seat that she won last year. Maybe it's the seat that made me win today (smiling).

Q. A lot of people think of you as a fun player with a lot of magic shots. Talk about the process of becoming a better competitor over the past four or five years.

ONS JABEUR: Well, I think maybe today wasn't that much fun. I was, like, really hitting the ball. Maybe I did few dropshots. It's not the same as before.

I was enjoying myself a lot. I was enjoying using her power and enjoying showing that I'm not one kind of a player that only mixes and do dropshot and slices. Also, if you want to hit hard, I'm here to hit as fast as I can. I did show that. Not only to the player, I showed to myself, too.

That gives me a lot of confidence to continue and be one of the great competitors here in Wimbledon or in the world.

Q. How far off from that game did you decide this particular approach? Did you think about this approach months ago or just a couple days ago? For those of us that don't watch you all year round, where does that rank among your personal performances?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I mean, I think I'm a different player from last year. Even though I wanted to stick to the plan and follow the plan, maybe I couldn't do it last year.

I was also emotionally and physically tired at the final. It takes up a lot of energy playing these kind of players. I think I honestly don't regret anything that happened last year. It was meant to be.

I would maybe be angry if I didn't change anything and I didn't do anything this match, but I did. It worked very well for me, even though first set I said I should have won it. Then second set I stayed focused. I'm glad that I showed another image to myself first on the court.

Ranking-wise, yeah, I don't know if people don't follow tennis, probably they think it's a big upset today. I've won against Elena before. It's very tough winning against her. I'm glad that I'm showing that I'm here, and hopefully the ones who don't follow tennis follow me more.

Q. Did you make yourself watch last year's final a lot and forensically analyze it?

ONS JABEUR: I can't. Very difficult. I couldn't watch it. Very, very difficult.

Until this day, I couldn't watch this match. I can watch today's match. That's okay (smiling). But not last year.

Q. (No microphone.)

ONS JABEUR: Even watching the Netflix show was painful. If I watch the whole match, it would have been terrible. I'm glad that I'm speaking with my coach a lot and he's explaining things for me. I've watched few points, but not the whole match.

Q. It sounds like not watching that match, but it seems as those you've digested last year and the US Open, too.

ONS JABEUR: Thank you for reminding me (smiling).

Q. How long does it take you to go through those ingredients and sort through the ones that you want to keep in your kitchen versus the stuff that you want to throw out and not remember?

ONS JABEUR: It's not about not remembering. I think every single player, I mean, the first few days especially, the match go over your mind, especially the painful points.

As much as it's painful, I try to speak with my coach, get his view. I believe I have honestly the best coach on tour because he's really very, very good. He's trying to help me as much as he can. Sometimes I'm stubborn, which makes me me as a player.

From these matches, preparing for these matches, the finals or any other match, I do 100%, so I try not to regret anything at the end.

If I did miss something, then honestly I'm just a human being. I cannot be so tough with myself. But I am tough with myself sometimes because I need to. To be able to be in these stages, I believe that I need to be tough with myself in certain situations, but not do it a lot because it will probably destroy me.

Q. In order to be able to be hitting the ball harder, did you spend more time at the gym and do more physical training or more hitting the ball on the practice court?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I think the practice makes you perfect, like they say. I think I'm having more muscles maybe (smiling).

Yeah, I think everything connects, working out, feeling better physically, especially after a tough year, starting this year especially with the injuries.

But believing that I can hit as hard as the other players, I think that makes the difference for me. That's what I'm doing right now.

Q. According to Rybakina, the winner of your semifinal will have a very good chance to win the title.

ONS JABEUR: I can't tell you how tough this part of the draw is. And I spoke about it. I believe, like, every amazing grass player is playing on our side. Either Elena, either Sabalenka, Alexandrova, Kvitova. The names are very, very tough.

I do believe our part is stronger than the other part. But, you know, every Grand Slam final is a final, and you can change a lot of things. For me, I think I'm going to focus on the semifinal and see what's going to happen.

Q. In terms of the semifinal, any thoughts on how you're going to approach it?

ONS JABEUR: Well, I didn't change a lot of the style of the game playing another player who hits very hard. Very emotional on the court. It's going to be very difficult match. Probably her shouting that way, me shouting this way.

For me it's going to be very similar to today. I'm going to try my best to stay focused and take every opportunity. Aryna is more emotional than Elena, so maybe it could be a good or bad thing, I'm not sure. But let's see tomorrow.

I'm going to prepare and take my revenge from two years ago.

Q. On that meeting, the fact that you played a similar player today, do you think that will help you tomorrow?

ONS JABEUR: Definitely that will help me. I think I showed to myself that I can stand up against these players. It's a great proof for me to start the game and to be confident and to go 100%. Honestly, I have nothing to lose. I'm going to go play like the second and third set like I played today.