AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 14, 2023

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Ons, welcome back to the Australian Open. How does it feel after you had to miss last year's edition?

ONS JABEUR: I mean, just excited to play this year hopefully. I miss the heat. I miss the Aussie fans. Looking forward to playing my first match on Tuesday.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. A quick update on your back. Looked pretty tight in Adelaide. How are you feeling having practiced for a week?

ONS JABEUR: It's actually much, much better. I just needed a couple days to just be ready.

You know, it's the beginning of the season, but also kind of the last of the season somehow (smiling). I'm very happy that I'm back.

I've been training really well. Definitely enjoying the courts here.

Q. On what you said about missing the heat. It's 37 degrees today. Not many people are enjoying that. Do you not mind that kind of heat? Do you feel here that's an edge maybe that you can have?

ONS JABEUR: I'd like to say that I'm Tunisian and I'm used to that (smiling).

But honestly I didn't know if today was that hot, they will suspend playing. I didn't even know that. I thought being in Adelaide, we had days like you were super hot. It was worse than today.

But, yeah, definitely I like to adapt and do everything I can for this kind of heat. Just sometimes it's a little bit of pressure since I'm coming, again, from Tunisia and everybody thinks I'm used to this heat. With the stress with everything, you have to really follow the right protocols to be ready for this weather.

Q. Can I ask, what made you want to be part of the executive board of the PTPA?

ONS JABEUR: There's a lot of things I think we can improve in our sport. I was really curious to see what we can do more. I have learnt a lot of things.

We don't want to fight with everyone. We just want to make our sport great and give what tennis deserve, give what the players deserve. That was my first goal.

We just started. We had couple of meetings. I'm just really curious to see what we can do to help more the players.

Q. You made two Grand Slam finals last year, then won a Masters 1000 on a clay court. How do you see yourself in terms of comfort level on these courts or are you equally comfortable no matter what the surface is?

ONS JABEUR: You know me, you know my game. I try to always adapt to different surface. I obviously like this hard court here in Australia.

Yeah, I will try to use that experience from last year because it was kind of tough. My goal is to not lose any more finals (smiling), but just use that to be ready for the next one.

I feel like there is not a lot of pressure on me on this tournament. I'm just going to try to play my game, just be there match by match, see what's going to happen.

Q. You told us at Wimbledon the Venus water dish was your lock screen photo. What is your lock screen photo at the moment?

ONS JABEUR: I'm not sure if I can tell you (smiling).

I'll give you a hint, what I'll tell you. There is one trophy there. Actually, you know what, there is one trophy in my phone and one trophy in my husband's phone. Different ones.

I'll tell you. I just want to keep you like that, guys. I love it (laughter).

Q. How long have they been there?

ONS JABEUR: It's been there when I started the preseason, like literally before. I had a meeting with my team, and we discussed our goals and everything, so...

Q. Can I ask you about your contract with Evolve. I was wondering when it happened? Anything you want to do with that agent or company?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I mean, it's not just Evolve. Actually it's also with Adel, AASolutions. He's also Tunisian and he's helping me.

I want to aim for bigger things. I think I deserve more. Just want to explore the world. I want to give myself more opportunities.

Just felt like it's the right fit for me. For me it's like I'm going for much bigger things, for sure.

Q. Have you watched Break Point on Netflix yet?

ONS JABEUR: I did watch the first episode and my episode. I skipped. Actually I skipped to my episode.

I like the episode with Paula. We actually filmed more things. It's not there. I'm still waiting for the second part because I feel like there are a lot of things we filmed at Wimbledon and the US Open. Hopefully I can see that. They didn't follow me this whole time for just like 30 minutes.

It's nice. I hope they can show more of inside the locker rooms and what people want to see, you know.

Q. You reached your first slam quarterfinal here 2020. How much have your priorities shifted from the Ons Jabeur happy to reach her first slam quarterfinal to the Ons Jabeur of 2023?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I may not be as happy as I was in 2020 reaching the quarterfinal (smiling).

It's still a quarterfinal, you know? I just like to give every round what every round deserve. For me, yes, the goal as second in the world is to be in the second week, to make finals.

Yes, I like this kind of pressure. I'm going to put more pressure on myself because I feel like sometimes you just need that to be one of the top players.

I know a lot of players are hungry to do more. It's going to be very interesting this two weeks, for sure.

Q. You mentioned before you had these pictures of these trophies when you come into these tournaments. Do you think in some ways there's a danger in that in that you might be putting too much emphasis on results and outcome rather than the process?

ONS JABEUR: That's always how I worked. It's been always great for me that I tell you guys what I want to achieve, I tell you my goals. I put it out there, make a promise to you guys. I hate to break my promises. I see it that way.

I tell you guys I want to win Grand Slams. Okay, you're expecting me to win. I can't disappoint you (smiling).

Q. What are your goals then this year?

ONS JABEUR: Hmm...

Well, I talked about them. I want to be No. 1 in the world, not just the number but also the level and the discipline around it. I want to win more titles and get that Grand Slam title, for sure.

Q. As you see the field at the start of the season, the slate is pretty clean. Is it on the women's side a wide-open tournament here or do you think there is a smaller subset of players that have distinguished themselves as the ones to watch?

ONS JABEUR: Well, I see there is definitely a lot of players to look out there. I can name a few. It's not that wide open, like so many people think. You can have five players, and I think five of them could win this slam, for sure.

Five is not that open, right (smiling)?