THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2022

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

O. JABEUR/E. Mertens

7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Ons, give us your initial thoughts on the match.

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, tough battle actually. It's never easy to play Elise. But I'm pretty happy with the win. Hopefully will continue this way for me.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. The first set was stressful even to watch. I was wondering what that was like, how you got through it in the end.

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, it's just like little bit frustrating when you have a break up twice the first set. But I was expecting that she will push me like a lot during this match.

I'm glad that I didn't really give up on the first set on 6-3. Especially I was, like, not finding that shot that could help me get the break up or the mini break up.

Pretty glad that I got the fight, kind of tactically played better, especially at the end of the tiebreak.

Q. On commentary on the BBC Tracy Austin said it was the most open bottom half of the draw she'd ever seen at this stage of the tournament. How much confidence does it give you that you were able to come through the tough first set? When you look ahead, how optimistic are you that you can go deep here this week?

ONS JABEUR: It's never easy to play anyone during the Grand Slam. Elise is not easy. I'm not sure what's her ranking right now, but I think she deserve to be in the top 15. She's a tough player. Not easy to play anyone on grass.

Especially with my position, everybody wants to grab the win.

I'm just very positive about what I want to do. I have my goals very high for this tournament, so I'm going to keep doing that. No matter who's coming, I'm going to build the fight, I'm going to fight till the end because I really want the title.

Q. What is your mix of having fun versus feeling stress or pressure right now?

ONS JABEUR: It's my kind of thing to express a little bit my stress during the match, doing funny things with the football or anything just helps me connect with the crowd. Be myself on the court really is very, very important.

But, yeah, the match was really -- I think the intensity-wise was 10 out of 10 stressful.

Q. Between days, how are you feeling?

ONS JABEUR: I'm feeling good. I'm trying to, like, enjoy myself on the practice days. The traffic here in London doesn't help much because I'm not staying in the village. But I'm enjoying having, like, the parks around me, enjoying my time off during the matches as well.

Q. Where are you staying in London?

ONS JABEUR: Pretty far, apparently (smiling).

I don't know, but there is traffic every road for some reason. I think not far from Hyde Park. Is it Mayfair? Is it very far?

Q. Yes.

ONS JABEUR: Bad choice.

Q. You're obviously an all-court player; game adapts to all surfaces. What is your ranking of the surface?

ONS JABEUR: My ranking now?

Q. The surfaces of clay, hard, grass.

ONS JABEUR: I think I'll stick to No. 2 right now. It's a good ranking for me.

Q. I mean in terms of your favorite surfaces.

ONS JABEUR: Oh, okay.

For now grass. I think I'm going to choose grass (smiling). I love clay. I'll put hard after, hard courts. I haven't really got the chance to play on hard a lot, especially this season. I'm going to see what's going to happen, like, after grass.

Q. What are the things you think you do best on grass and that give you the most confidence when you play on the surface?

ONS JABEUR: I think changing up the rhythm. When I'm serving better and good, especially the first serve, that helps me get the points that I want to have.

It's not easy sometimes to kind of play the slices that they make you play. With my hands, I think it helps me a lot to go forward to the net and finish the ball.

I think one of the things that really helps me, I think most of the players would say that, you don't know what to expect as a shot from me. I can really hit hard, I can really change the rhythm, I can really slice. That's tricky.

If I play someone who plays like that, I would be annoyed also.

Q. Your opponent in the next round basically said what you just said about facing you. What do you see as the keys to the match?

ONS JABEUR: I think it will be similar as today's match. I know that I love how she plays, Marie, really amazing to see her winning. It's going to be a tough battle because I know she's such a fighter. She's everywhere, brings every ball. It's going to be tricky.

But I think my game could really bother her. It has to really click for me that match, for sure.

Q. I think you're the perfect example that a positive attitude goes a long way in tennis. You're loved by players and fans. Do you think this type of attitude on and off the court should be embraced by more players on the tour?

ONS JABEUR: I don't know. I hope so. I try not to judge a lot of players because it's really tough. It's a frustrating sport. You have to really learn how to handle your nerves during the matches.

Me, I'm just someone that enjoys life a lot. For me, a tennis career is going to be very short. What's more important for me is my character and how people talk about me.

If maybe I'm successful now, in a few years maybe not, people will probably forget about me and move on and think about other players, for sure.

But definitely I love talking to people, love interacting with the juniors here. They're very nice. You know, just life moves on.

Q. You were talking about strengthening your nerves during matches. How have you felt them strengthen across the last few years, a couple points that are important in that growth?

ONS JABEUR: I think I'm giving myself more time to prepare the match. I'm expressing much better for my stress, for everything that happens around the match. Sometimes I can see myself very frustrated and lose focus to kind of do good, do better. I've done that in a lot of matches. The stress really could get you.

I'm preparing much better my matches. I am breathing better. I'm expressing more my feelings before the matches. That helps me, like, really play the game that I want to play.

Q. You like to entertain. There was a match last night which entertained a lot of people. Did you watch that match?

ONS JABEUR: The match of?

Q. Last night.

ONS JABEUR: Oh, Tsitsipas?

Q. Yeah.

ONS JABEUR: That was entertaining, yeah. I didn't watch the whole match. I've seen some reviews.

Honestly, it's sad to see some actions like that. But they're both amazing players. I hope I can see the match without all the throwing the ball and provoking each other.

Tennis is a very beautiful sport. It shouldn't be that way.