AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2025

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

E. NAVARRO/O. Jabeur

6-4, 3-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Ons, tough fight out there today. Your initial thoughts on the match?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I think it was a good fight. I know Emma plays really well. I mean, I'm happy with the level that I played with. I obviously didn't play as good in the third set. I think I'll keep the positive with everything going on. We'll keep working on stuff.

Hopefully I feel like the level is there. It just needs to come back properly.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How different did it feel on court after having time off, whether you felt lighter on court?

ONS JABEUR: You know, I expected worse, for sure, after not playing for a long time, especially in Brisbane. It felt good coming back. I felt the level maybe changed a bit. It's faster somehow or maybe it's the courts.

I'm definitely enjoying every moment. I try to do my best even though I had some issues. I feel like I'm a different player from when I stopped. I would say my last real match was Wimbledon until now.

I'm glad that the issue of my shoulder is almost gone. I can play and get back to the game.

Q. How physically did you feel after each match and now?

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, I had some issues with my breathing and my lungs. Yeah, I think with that, I was able to fight and I was able to discover another player in me, that maybe I thought I couldn't get past that.

I feel like the level is here. I'm very proud of the way I'm hitting the shots. I think a lot of things are improving. With me, unfortunately it takes time - more than other players maybe. Everybody is different. I am different.

I'll have to just be patient and just thank God that I can honestly play at this level. After stopping, I couldn't know if I was able to come back or not.

Q. How did you find the conditions? Quicker than other years? Some have said it's a bit slower.

ONS JABEUR: The courts?

Q. Yes.

ONS JABEUR: They're faster. Who said slower (smiling)? They're way faster. For me. I don't know.

I saw Jess was talking about the condition. At night it's always slower anywhere you play in the world. It's always slower. But the conditions, let's say daylight is really, really fast. I'm not sure if they redo the courts here every year. I honestly don't think so, because I felt like the balls were really light. It's kind of flying a bit. The lines is really fast, too.