GUADALAJARA OPEN

September 19, 2023

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

O. JABEUR/A. Parks

6-2, 6-2

Q. Congrats on the win in singles. I'm sorry it's not the same result in doubles. I want to ask you, how do you feel with all the pressure to be one of the most favorite players to win in Guadalajara?

ONS JABEUR: I try to see it as a good pressure, you know. I've been in this situation a couple of times. One time I handled it very well, the other time not. So let's see. I mean, I'm just trying to enjoy and not think, overthink about being seeded No. 1, and try to be here, and hopefully it's going to be great.

Q. First of all, aren't you tired?

ONS JABEUR: A little bit. You guys are still here, so I'm still pumped too.

Q. It was your first time playing with Peyton, and even though you didn't have the win, it seems like you have a good time on the court. I also think it's part of your essence. How can you combine this essence, happiness essence, with challenging situations?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, like I said before, I'm trying to enjoy playing more on the court. Doubles, maybe I'm more relaxed in doubles. I try also to be the same in singles. Sometimes the pressure gets you.

Yeah, with Peyton, we played really well, and I think it was a great two rounds for us. Hopefully maybe we play one more time, let's see. But, yeah, most importantly I try to enjoy playing on the court and especially with a beautiful crowd.

Q. What is the perception that you have before about Mexico? We know that we don't have the best reputation. Now that you see the crowd and everything, the people, probably the food, the experiences that you have had since you arrived, so what is the difference?

ONS JABEUR: To be honest with you, Tunisians, we have a good impression about Mexicans. So, yeah, we usually know Mexican from the football crowd and from the football teams. But it's, honestly, we have a great idea.

Now coming here it's even greater, because I thought most of the crowd only followed kind of football, and seeing that they're passionate about tennis too that's unbelievably great.

I've also been wanting to go to vacation here so many times. It's just a little bit far from Tunisian. A little bit. Yeah, definitely I want to come back and play more tennis and do vacation here, for sure.

Q. With the season almost over my question is about next year. If you had to choose between winning a first Grand Slam or an Olympic gold medal for your country, which one would you choose?

ONS JABEUR: Honestly, I don't have the best experience in the Olympic games, so I will definitely choose a Grand Slam (laughing). I can win a Grand Slam for my country too.

Q. Congratulations on your win. Welcome to Guadalajara. Some people have talked about how you opened your own path as an African player, and I wanted to ask you how did you perceive the tennis inside of your own country and Africa? Has it improved or do you see any changes?

ONS JABEUR: Well, in Tunisia and in Africa in general, very passionate about tennis. Maybe we didn't have a lot of players, but we had different players from Tunisia, from Morocco, from Egypt before, so that counts like, you know, African amazing players.

For me, I think it's started to change. Especially parents, they try to switch the mentality of you can be a professional tennis player. I feel like there is more clubs in Tunisia. I'm hoping to have more facilities, not just in Tunisia but in Africa in general. I think that will help players want to try to play tennis more.

Yeah, hopefully one day with my experience I can open my own academy and definitely share. You know, because I really, my goal is to see more and more Tunisian and also African players play on tour.