ROLAND GARROS

June 5, 2021

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

O. JABEUR/M. Linette

3-6, 6-0, 6-1

Q. I'm curious, you took that injury in Madrid and it looked pretty bad. I'm kind of curious what it was like getting ready for this event and how pleased you are to be able to overcome all that and make it back into the second week.

ONS JABEUR: Well, yeah, honestly it was kind of a small tear, but it takes a lot of time. I'm glad that I had the right team behind me, and I think my physio, she helped me a lot. I've got to tell you, the first week and second week didn't look so good because it was painful coming back, but I had keep like going on and play good.

Also I didn't have much practice back home, but I came here and I tried to get back to the game and practice with different players, play points. I'm glad that I have no pain right now, and honestly I'm trying to forget about this injury. But I understand, I've played a lot of matches, so it makes sense that I got a little bit of Madrid.

Q. Can you talk about just this match, bouncing back from that first set, and were there adjustments? Did her level drop? How did you see it from your side?

ONS JABEUR: I think I was kind of tight a little bit at the beginning, so I wasn't actually playing my game. But I'm very proud of myself that at 5-3 I tried to come back and I accepted the way she was playing good. Actually she was playing like very correctly and she was putting pressure on me. I wasn't playing amazing, so at the second set, I was like -- changed the way I was thinking. I was like, okay, I'm just going to play my game. I'm just going to release a little bit the tension and just be myself on the court, and that's what I did, and it helped pretty well.

Q. Did you feel as though at this point, I think you've made the second week at three of your last five Slams or something like that. It's becoming far more -- you're a more consistent Slam player than maybe you were before. How does it feel? Is this what you expect from yourself? Is there a newness and excitement of doing it? What are your emotions about it?

ONS JABEUR: I was more consistent first rounds before, but I'm trying to change it up a little bit (chuckling).

The mentality changed. Like I said before, I think everything is following my ranking, the way I'm playing on the court, the way I'm handling a lot of things. I want to be in the second week. I was doing everything that I can to be in the second week. I hate winning first round or second round or third round, so I'm just doing my best to go further more and more, and I like to be consistent, and that's what I'm doing.

I think the hard work is paying off in every way. I'm telling you, in every way, either mentally, physically or on the court. I think we are doing a great job right now.

Q. Looking ahead, either Gauff or Brady. It's been a tricky draw for you and you've managed it very well, but can you talk about the challenges of playing both of them? They're a little different in how they play their tennis.

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, both players are amazing. I mean, Brady is playing so well lately. We saw she did a final in Australia. Gauff also winning another WTA title. I respect both of them a lot. It's going to be a tricky match either Brady or Gauff, so hopefully they play for five hours or something. It will be a good battle, but I'll be glad to play either of them.

I like to play those kind of players. I think they're a little bit similar on the forehand, so I'm going to prepare for that.

Q. Speaking on Gauff specifically, obviously you've played her a few times, success, not success, but can you talk about what makes her impressive as a youngster and what she's doing and the way she plays her tennis?

ONS JABEUR: I mean, she has a really solid ball. I think what makes it different with Coco is like mentally she's strong. She never gives up or lets the pressure get her.

I think her being surrounded by probably Serena and Venus helps her a lot to get into the game and other matches. She's handling very well everything going on, and she deserves to be here. She deserves to even be a better ranked player. Also she's nice outside the court, so it's nice to have her.