THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 25, 2022

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Ons, how are your preparations going? Big win in Berlin for you.

ONS JABEUR: It's going great. I had a great practice with Serena again. Yeah, it's going great. Hopefully I'll be ready for Monday.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Curious about how the body is feeling. I think you withdrew with a knee injury in Eastbourne. You were particular about not playing singles there. How do you feel overall?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, just from the little experience that I had in Roland Garros, I just wanted to be ready and not overplay. My knee, I always had trouble with it, so I just want to be precautious and not finish and be ready for Wimbledon.

But overall everything is good. Hopefully I'll be hundred percent on Monday, for sure.

Q. Do you feel you had overplayed going into the French Open, and that was a factor in what happened there? How do you reflect on what happened at the French Open? How does it change your mindset, perhaps not going to this next slam?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I think playing a lot of matches was very, I mean, tiring physically and mentally, but especially mentally. Going to the French Open, I really felt that pressure of everybody expecting me to do well. I wasn't used to that. Just invisible player going to Grand Slams, doing well sometimes (smiling).

But, yeah, I tried to learn from that, not overplay, not play a lot of matches on grass, just prepare myself for the main goal. For me the main goal was Wimbledon even before the year starts.

Q. What are your thoughts about the Wimbledon ban on the Russian and Belarusian players, then the tour's response regarding the ranking points?

ONS JABEUR: Well, I spoke about this before. I always said, like, my idea is not to mix politics and sports together because at the end of the story the athletes get affected. Players couldn't play the tournament, and we couldn't get the points, so kind of no one winning at the end.

For me it is what it is. Just the decision was made. Not really happy with not getting points because I have quarterfinal to defend. But glad it wasn't a final at least or something. Always keep positive in this.

You know, Wimbledon is a Grand Slam. It will be amazing. For me I will be hundred percent ready to win it.

Q. What do you think of your draw, your first match, and how far you look at the draw usually?

ONS JABEUR: Not far. Not so far (laughter).

It's a good draw. First rounds or any other rounds in Grand Slams is always tricky. Everybody wants to play. Everybody wants to win.

I'm trying to use the experience that I have, especially what happened in the French Open, can I use that to make the first round and take it step by step.

I think I only know the first two rounds. I didn't really look further. I don't like to look. I just prepare myself to focus on each match, then see what happens.

Q. You've been lucky enough to now play doubles with Serena in the last week. What are your feelings on her making a return a year after how she exited Wimbledon?

ONS JABEUR: Honestly I was so lucky to get picked by her, play along her side. Gives me even more confidence to be much better player.

She's amazing. So glad that she came back, decided to come back. I feel like she's okay. I play with her, and she's moving really good. She's an amazing player. You can see on the important points she can serve three aces. She's really great.

I want to see her win a lot of matches here.

Q. You spoke about it a little bit, but that situation at the French Open, how surprised were you at the pressure that you were feeling, all of the levels you've been through in tennis from junior to where you are today? Do you feel like it was one of the bigger lessons for you to understand of coming into a tournament with those expectations on your shoulders?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, the thing is I didn't feel like the pressure from the beginning. Everything happened really fast. I didn't have a lot of time between Rome and Roland Garros.

I think the good thing is I keep positive, and I always say something bad happens, because there is a great thing coming. I believe there is still great things coming for me.

I feel like I want those things to happen so I can learn. Maybe sometimes I need to learn the hard way. It is what it is. I'm not going to start crying about the past or whatever happened. For sure it happened for a reason. Maybe I wasn't prepared enough. Maybe I didn't do something good enough.

But I try to do everything hundred percent. It didn't go well for the French Open. Maybe something big is happening here.

Q. What are the little details about Wimbledon that you enjoy most after you walk onto the grounds?

ONS JABEUR: I think first of all the dress code that everybody loves. For me it feels like a wedding, everybody in white, or a beach party, like a dress code is white.

I love the crowd here, how respectful they are. No matter if you're ranked, I don't know, 200 or No. 1 in the world, always people are very passionate about tennis. The energy overall.

I love the nature. You can see flowers, green stuff everywhere. That I love so much.

Q. You said this year Wimbledon was the goal. Has that always been the goal? Is this the one you dreamed of?

ONS JABEUR: I don't know. I have a feeling about this one for some reason. Wimbledon has always like a special place in my heart.

Before it was the French Open because it was always close to Tunisia, I grew up playing on clay a lot. But grass, I usually play football, not tennis (smiling).

I mean, it's amazing. What I experienced last year, the emotions on Centre Court, everything that happened, I think it became a dream. I wish I can have that dream one day.