WTA FINALS

October 29, 2022

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: What was your reaction just with your group last night, and how was last night for you in terms of your first WTA Finals gala?

ONS JABEUR: It was very nice to see everybody dressed up and being in the same suite. Everybody is getting ready, the makeup, the hair. Definitely not the same outfit we usually wear, but it was very nice.

The thing that I love the most is everybody trying to give advice to the other one, what dress to choose, what goes with it, you know?

Usually we want the other one to look bad (laughing), but most of us, we want the other one to look good. So that was very nice.

Yeah, the group I feel like is very tough, but it's the tournament. You have the best eight here, so everybody wants to win.

Overall I think it was a great night, and it changed it up a little bit. You can see also the personality of the different other players.

Q. Ons, you haven't played since Tunisia, so I'm wondering what was the thinking behind not playing San Diego or Guadalajara? What did you do during that time to be prepared for this tournament?

ONS JABEUR: Well, San Diego was really, like, just after Tunisia. So traveling-wise and jet lag-wise it was not smart to play. Guadalajara is completely different conditions than here, so we didn't want to take the risk and just play another tournament.

Plus, I was pretty tired with all the matches that I played, and I said that I would do a mini preparation and get prepared. The main reason is to prepare for this tournament. I wanted to get a few matches in Tunisia. Obviously, I want to go for title, but it was good enough.

And I think I had like a pretty mini pre-season, a nice workout to be ready for this tournament.

Q. What does getting to participate in this tournament mean to you? Does it signify something important to you to be one of those top eight players at the end of a year?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, definitely. Just proves that this year was amazing. Just being part of the eight players that qualified here is something that I always wanted.

I started wanted it two years ago, but it happened this year. Definitely proves I belong with the best players in the world.

Q. Half the field is here for the first time. I guess, first, why do you think there's so many first-time participants, and what does that maybe say about tennis at this point? Is that a good thing? Maybe it doesn't matter, but having new players be in this group at the end of the year.

ONS JABEUR: Well, I mean, times change. I feel like even the first time the players that have played the first time here, they were pretty consistent the last few years. You can take Jess, Coco, me. We always try to qualify. We were maybe 13, 12 in the Race before.

But, yeah, I mean, I feel like nobody saw the changes coming because of the COVID and the ranking, so I feel like the change happened, like, way before. But since the rankings stopped for a while, people didn't see it.

But, yeah, I feel like those players are here. They were the players consistent for a few years already.

Q. Ons, have you had a chance to hit on the match court yet?

ONS JABEUR: Like, it's not ready, so it's supposed to be ready today (laughing). Yeah, I'm going to hit later on it, yeah.

I saw the arena. Is really cool, very nice, very big. Honestly, it's exciting to play on it.

Q. Then just in terms of the preparation and everything and the round robin aspect of this event, have you had history in the past of playing group style events? It's not like a draw where you can play yourself into form, you have to be straight out the gate playing pretty well. Do you think that changes anything rhythm-wise for you?

ONS JABEUR: It did when I played the Arab Championship and African Championship. We had this group. But, yeah, it goes way back.

Yeah, I mean, I remember also we played with teams, changes little bit like Fed Cup, and one year we played the World Cup in the under-14 before.

So yeah, for me the only thing that I should do is win every match so I don't have to calculate anything (laughing).

Q. To qualify for the WTA Finals requires physical consistency as well as matches. The decision to pace yourself after the US Open, was it impacted by what happened last year when you sort of had those physical struggles just short of the finish line?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah. I mean, last year was crazy. I mean, also the scheduling didn't help much to fly to different countries. But, yeah, definitely I played a lot last year, and it didn't help with my injuries at the end of the year. Definitely didn't want to do the same mistake.

I didn't have to play a lot of tournaments at the end of the year, so the choice of just training and make myself stronger physically will help me definitely be ready for this tournament and also for next year.

Q. So over the past year or so there's been a shift to Hawkeye system calling on the lines. Since that's the case here, is there any part of you that misses having line judges to challenge the calls, or do you like the new system?

ONS JABEUR: Honestly, I like the new system because it's easier to know, and you don't have to question yourself if the ball was in or out, should I challenge it.

Sometimes it plays with your mind. You can challenge a ball, and you are for sure it's in, and you challenge it, and it's out. So even the next one you are sure the ball is in, and you want to challenge it, but you don't have the courage to do it.

But, yeah, definitely that doesn't raise any questions for you during the match and makes you focus more on just playing.

Q. We saw at the US Open in-match coaching allowed for the first time in Grand Slam play, and it was allowed for the men and the women. I'm curious, do you like having that during matches? Do you think it's something that either can help you? Would you rather not have it because you feel like you would rather just go head-to-head with your opponent and not have your opponent allowed to get any consultation during a match?

ONS JABEUR: I honestly don't mind it. I prefer to have the option to talking to my coach than not have it. But, yeah, if I feel like I want to use it, I'll definitely go talk to him. If not, he will talk to me anyways (laughing). That's what my coach does, so...

Q. How much do you listen when he talks?

ONS JABEUR: I don't know. Depends what I want to take at that time and depends how angry I am at that time.

But, yeah, sometimes even if the player refuses to, like myself, because some players are really open to listen to things, but even if you refuse to listen to some stuff, but it really helps at the time, especially when you are not thinking straight and especially when you are super stressed or angry. But you can hear one word, and it clicks with you.

Q. First match is against Aryna Sabalenka. Can you talk about facing her right off the bat?

ONS JABEUR: It's not the best to start playing against Aryna with all the balls coming very fast. We practiced together yesterday. So it's going to be a great match, to be honest with you. It's going to be tough. Whoever is going to be more solid on the court is going to win.

Definitely I have my own tactic, and I will try my best to overcome her power.