ROLAND GARROS

June 4, 2024

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/O. Jabeur

4-6, 6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Ons, obviously not the result you would want today, but talk us through the quarterfinal run here at Roland Garros.

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I think it was a great match for both of us. I think I played really a good level. Yeah, Coco was better the moments, especially on the third set.

Yeah, I will learn from this one and hopefully will be better for the next one.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. What was the difference you think after the first set? Because you started really well. Then maybe she adjusted a bit technically, or on your side you started to struggle a lot or...

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I think the first set I was more solid on my legs, and especially I think my forehand side, that helped me a lot. I was expecting her to play, you know, better after, in the second set and the third set, but it was, like, really couple of moments that I missed, was really frustrating.

I think the first break was not meant to be, I've got to say. I had my chances. Not like she really played like a good returning game or anything. Yeah, after, I felt like she took the advantage and fly away with the set.

But third set, it was very difficult. You know, I felt like I had chances to come back. But, yeah, it is what it is. It's very tough, but hopefully I will learn from this one.

Q. Grass season next. You have obviously been so close at Wimbledon the last two years. Does a run like this give you the preparation and confidence you need to hopefully be third time lucky?

ONS JABEUR: Definitely physically, I've got to say. When you play on the clay, physically you're always ready to be ready on the grass.

I'm trying to enjoy my time. I'm playing different tournaments this year. Hopefully I will be present in Nottingham. No rain hopefully in there (smiling). But I'm looking forward to play as many matches as I can on grass, because I really love that surface.

Q. I'm afraid it always rains in Nottingham, but we'll do our best for you.

ONS JABEUR: I'm trying to bring the sun from Tunisia (smiling).

Q. I appreciate that. See you there. It looks like we will have 11 night sessions here and 11 men's matches. I wonder what your take on that was and whether you think it's fair or you're quite happy not to be playing at night?

ONS JABEUR: I would have loved a quarterfinal at night, not at 11:00 a.m. For me, doesn't make sense. Maybe this is the only Grand Slam and maybe Australian Open they play quarterfinals at 11:00 a.m., which for me, I don't find it's... you know, I don't know the broadcasts. I don't know the TV, but yeah, you achieve a quarterfinal. You have it's, like, no, you play at 11:00.

Anyways, I talked about the night matches. Honestly, I wish I can see the contract time between both Prime and here to know what's the deal there. You know, there was a lot of good woman's matches. Obviously not four hours, but who said it's healthy to play past 1:00 a.m., and who said the stadium was full for 1:00 a.m. or 2:00 a.m.? I don't know who is watching the matches at that time.

Again, I would suggest to start earlier and then put nice matches on both sides. It's not healthy also for players to play past, I don't know, 11:00 or midnight.

Q. This tournament for you feels really promising after a difficult year. Was that just fitness? Was that the knee feeling better, or were there other things involved that kind of turned it around a bit?

ONS JABEUR: Well, I think quarterfinals is not bad. I'll take it, anyways. Yeah, I mean, clay obviously demands a lot of physical, you know, strength for sure.

I think I felt good, you know, some moments, not like others, but I'm trying to get better. The fitness preparation is something else, but yeah, I'll try to get better, try to manage the pressure and the stress even better.

I just love this tournament, and I really find, you know, my way to play. I really enjoy playing here, especially, you know, seeing that the crowd is chanting in the middle of the game, it's really nice atmosphere.

Q. You have now played Coco a number of times. A few general questions. Do you think she's improving? Could you just talk about what makes her such a great player and can she go to the very... I mean, she's almost at the very top, but can you she go and be a really dominant player in the future?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I think Coco is an amazing player. My favorite thing about Coco is her fighting spirit. I think she's playing, like, great tennis right now, but I saw her playing better before. Obviously she's such a fighter, she always try to find ways, she's really smart on the court.

I definitely see her becoming, you know, maybe the Big 4. They have the Big 3 right now (smiling).

Yeah, I think she has a long way -- she's what, No. 3 right now? And having a lot of things to improve, it's actually good news for a player.

Q. I know you're still probably processing that loss, but what have you learned mentally from today?

ONS JABEUR: I'm actually trying to be less hard with myself and be proud with the way I was fighting. Sometimes it's very tough to see the bright side, and that's my kind of issue a little bit with being so hard on myself and not, you know, giving, like, the chances.

No, I did my best today, and it wasn't meant to be. Just we'll throw the clay shoes away and get the grass shoes now. That's how it works, you know.

I'm actually one of the players that as soon as I lose a match, it's processing the tickets, the checkouts, everything to get things done, and maybe take a couple of days off and see.

But, yeah, just mentally I'm really progressing I think a lot, and I think it's maybe hoping for something better to come in the future.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. Congratulations for what you've done on the tournament. Can I ask two quick questions, please. No. 1, what are the lessons you take from this tournament? How would you analyze the full week, well, 10 days, and this match?

ONS JABEUR: Well, it was one-and-a-half weeks which were wonderful for me. I really love to be here in Paris. Now I have this rhythm, this pace that I wanted to have.

It was a tough match today, which I expected. Coco plays really well. At certain moments it was difficult for me to return her serves, mainly on my forehand.

But then this is how tennis is. I'm proud, proud of what I did and my team as well. We'll do same again for the next Grand Slam, and that's how tennis is. I don't have time to be negative, because I'd like my brains to think positively all the time.

Q. I listened to your answer earlier on, and I saw what you said with Djokovic, the minister of happiness and minister of late-ending matches. I don't think that's going to be the case for women this year. Ten night sessions, none for women. In English, you gave us an answer, but could you share your feelings now in French on that?

ONS JABEUR: I have a lot to say on that topic. As you said, 10 night matches without any women playing. I don't expect any women to play in the evening, but frankly, playing a quarterfinal at 11:00 a.m. is really such a chore. We deserve to be here. Playing in the afternoon is better. There is going to be more people watching us and the stadiums are crowded. Well, the VIP is, well, you know, as usual.

But I really hope, as I said in English, that I can see the contract negotiated with Prime. I really don't understand the ins and outs, even for men. Playing that late for men after midnight is not a good thing. We saw yesterday how Novak was suffering with his knee.

And this, because he couldn't really recover well? I think for all players, men, women, we deserve better than that. We deserve a better scheduling.

We talked about this in Australia. We are still talking about this here. Even for you, the journalists, I don't think it's healthy to have these night matches. It's for everybody I'm speaking.

So we want a salary increase (smiling). No, I'm kidding.

But who knows? We have to find a way out so that everybody is happy: the players, the journalists, the full team. The ballkids are young and they're still on the courts when it's really late. I don't know if it's logical to have all that.

Q. (Question off microphone.)

ONS JABEUR: Well, at present, not really, but I'm a member of the PTPA, and nobody is very happy with this. But we're trying to change things and to push the limits.

Q. Ons, if you think about the beginning of your season, it was complicated. Were there moments when you doubted you couldn't find this level that you have reached now at Roland Garros?

ONS JABEUR: I always have doubts all the time. I try and be patient. It was not easy for me to see that I couldn't start playing again, but I'll try and be positive as much as I can.

There are moments when I doubt. I accept that. It's part of the game. And there are other moments when I win and then hope is back.

But you see, these emotions linger, and I have to deal with them. I don't want to set them aside. It doesn't really help me anymore, so I will be treading my own path and I hope that things will be good.