US OPEN

September 10, 2022

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/O. Jabeur

6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Magnificent tournament, magnificent run. Your thoughts.

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I mean, again, tough match, but it is what it is. It's part of the process. You know, we'll go for the third time hopefully (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. On court you talked about wanting to do more and more, inspire people. Do you have specific things in mind?

ONS JABEUR: Well, results-wise, definitely win a Grand Slam just to really show that it's not impossible for someone coming from my country, from my continent, to have that title.

Just keep improving. In the future maybe I can share my experience one day and show them a little bit the path. I mean, I don't want them to waste little bit their time like I did in some things because I didn't know what to do at some point. Kind of show them and guide them. Hopefully to see more and more players.

Q. Congrats on a good week.

ONS JABEUR: Two weeks (smiling).

Q. Can you talk about the match itself. The first set, was that too good from Iga? Slow start from you? Where was the difference? Then in the second set, how do you feel you were able to turn it around?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, she come off like really strong and put a lot of pressure on me. That didn't help. I was trying to get in the match. It was very tough. And she was playing really good at certain times. I was trying to get into the rally. Hitting lines a lot of times, kind of annoying from her.

Second set, again, I had my chances, she had hers. I was just coming back, coming back. At certain times it was kind of tough because I wish I had, like, that lead so I can continue and build on it.

I know she didn't play as good as the first set at certain times, maybe I should have taken my shot.

To be honest with you, I have nothing to regret because I did everything possible. I wish I served little bit better today. It would have helped me a lot.

You know, you know Iga, how she plays in finals. It's very enough to beat her. I will keep positive and work on the things that was missing today.

Q. When you go from Wimbledon here now, two in a row, is it hard to have to wait till next year or exciting, you feel like you can pick up where you left off?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I mean, it's good to have more time to prepare and get ready for that. Definitely I have a big thing coming, the Masters. It's a big thing for me. It's like a mini Grand Slam, I call it. I always dreamed to play this one. I will maybe show myself there and build more confidence to really get ready for the next season because I feel like I have a lot to show next season.

Points-wise, I don't have defending points in Australia, in French Open, in Wimbledon, which is good. It's a good thing. I'm definitely going for the No. 1 spot.

Q. What would you say distinguishes Iga the most from other top players that you face?

ONS JABEUR: I think in general just playing better at the right moment, at the important points. She knows, like, exactly what to do. I feel like she improved a lot from last year until the beginning of this year again.

She's, I think, working on a lot of things that get in her way. She's really set the bar very high. It's great for our sport. Just, you know, will keep doing my thing and hopefully will catch her.

Q. The first match point that you saved at 6-5, right before she went over to change her racquet. That seems unusual at that stage of a match. Did you find it odd at all?

ONS JABEUR: Her changing her racquet or me saving a match point (laughter)? Which one?

Changing her racquet, I honestly didn't see her changing her racquet. Maybe she was struggling with the balls. I don't see her struggling much, to be honest with you. She won the Grand Slam (smiling). Maybe she will fight back not to change the balls now.

I honestly didn't see. I was focusing more on myself. I was really happy that she missed that backhand.

Q. Obviously there's great disappointment, but can you express those emotions? Is it a case of it's no longer just satisfaction in getting to a major final? Is this one a bit tougher than Wimbledon because it's the second one?

ONS JABEUR: Definitely Wimbledon was tough. This one is going to be tough. We'll tell you in the next few days if I'm going to be able to sleep little bit.

It's part of tennis. Winning or losing is part of it. And fortunately it is me. I struggled to win my first WTA title. It took me time. So I believe this will take me time.

The most important thing is accepting it, you know, learning from the finals that I lost. But yeah, definitely I'm not someone that going to give up. I am sure I'm going to be in the final again. I will try my best to win it. I'm not sure, but I know I will do my best.

I'm not sure who I am in the next month, the next two months. I'm sure I'll be evolving for sure. I'm going to keep my hopes up. I know there is a lot of many finals coming for me.

Q. On a similar note, what did you do after the Wimbledon final to get over that? Do you want to just put the racquet away for a bit? How do you deal with losses?

ONS JABEUR: Well, I cried. First thing I did. But it was good to let out some emotions.

Yeah, didn't play for a week. It was huge in Tunisia. I'm going to tell you, I did rest but not really because I had a lot of things to do.

Definitely this time I'm going to enjoy a little bit my time, enjoy these two weeks, rest a little bit and prepare for the end of the season.

Just another tournament coming up, also in Tunisia, so it's going to be great for me to prepare for it.

Q. After these two finals, after today, what would be your message to African girls?

ONS JABEUR: Always believing in themselves, never give up. Definitely that's what I was trying to do all my career. I had some ups and downs. Before, it was injuries and getting to know myself on the court. After, it was losing quarterfinals. Then it evolved to losing finals. Then getting titles. Then I moved on.

I played a lot of African tournaments before and championships. The way they fight there and everything, it's just amazing. Hopefully just one day they can find the right person to guide them and be here. But most important not to give up.

Q. Compared to the time when you played in Wimbledon, how did you see your mindset or preparation for the final, your feeling when you walked on the court today?

ONS JABEUR: In Wimbledon I did everything I could to prepare. Maybe sometimes I was over the moon little bit just like thinking I should have been maybe more concentrated on the final. But I'm a dreamer. I dream a lot. I try to really manifest me winning.

This time I was pretty nervous. Maybe more nervous than Wimbledon, for sure. But, again, I did everything possible to prepare for this final. I worked on my breathing. I tried to really release that stress.

Yeah, I think this one was more stressful for me. I will learn definitely from it.

Q. You've spoken a lot about your work with Melanie. Could you tell us a little bit what you do with her after a defeat. Have you spoken to her after the match, or is it something you might do...

ONS JABEUR: We go out and celebrate (smiling).

Definitely I'm not going to do any work, like, for the next few days. I just need to relax a little bit. She needs to relax also.

But definitely we need to talk about it. I need to share my emotions during that final. I need to understand what really happened. She will help me do that.

But most important thing we're going to continue the work that we are doing, improving some stuff that I've been struggling with little bit.

She's been a great help for me. Every time she's here, either a final or I win the title, so it's just great.

Q. I know you said that you don't like Iga today, but tomorrow everything is going to change. You mentioned you hope to catch Iga one day. Last year you played her twice, won twice. This year you played her twice, lost twice. Seems like you're going to play again in the WTA Finals. What do you need to do different? How did she improve?

ONS JABEUR: That's a lot of questions in one question. I'll try to remember (smiling).

Yeah, definitely we'll play each other because she's No. 1, I'm No. 2. Hopefully it will be great matches between us.

But, yeah, she improved a lot I think her forehand and her serve. She's always been solid in the backhand. That's kind of tough.

Physically she's everywhere. She can bring any ball. It's always tough to play someone that puts one more shot in.

Yeah, we'll play each other in the Finals, I think so. Maybe we'll be different groups. I don't know. But, yeah, catching up in the ranking, I know she has a lot of defending points, I have none. That's kind of the goal.

It will always be great to compete against Iga. I was joking when I said I don't like her. I'll forgive her when she gives me a Rolex or something (smiling).