AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2025

Ons Jabeur

Press Conference

O. JABEUR/C. Osorio

7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Just to begin with, perhaps tell us how you feel about getting through another tough opponent today.

ONS JABEUR: Yeah, very tough match, very difficult for me to win today, but it was definitely something to find out about myself how I can push my limits.

But, yeah, Cammy plays really well, and I wish her all the best for the future.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You dug really deep to win. You went out after the third game. What was happening? We saw you, you know, touching your chest a couple of times. What's wrong?

ONS JABEUR: Very, very tough to breathe. When I was younger, I was diagnosed with asthma, so having took off a lot didn't help. I think it did provoke it even more.

Yeah, it is very tough to play. I had to kind of not play long rallies. I know I was playing Camila today. Not the best opponent when you are in this condition, but I apologized at the end of the match, because I really don't want behave like this on the court.

But, yeah, I tried to manage through. Luckily, I was playing really good. That really kind of helped me and pump me. But to be honest with you, if I lost the first set, it would have been very difficult to continue.

Q. Are you using an inhaler for asthma? Is it something that you...

ONS JABEUR: Seems it's not working (laughing). I don't know. That's what I think I have, but yeah, I tried to use the inhaler, and it didn't really help. So I was with the doctor, and let's see. We're going to do some more tests and see what's going on.

Q. I didn't see an inhaler on court or when you were sitting down at the change of ends. Are you allowed to use an inhaler on court?

ONS JABEUR: A certain amount, yes. I used it when I took the medical timeout. Yesterday I started a little bit. I was trying to hide it, to be honest with you (smiling).

Q. Just in terms of your level, setting aside how you are feeling physically, but through the first two rounds, how pleased are you with not just how you have played here at Melbourne Park, but just the start of the season, where your game is at?

ONS JABEUR: I feel like today I really played good. I don't know if it's the fact that I was trying to be better at least at playing, you know, today and maybe play less shots with Camila today. I feel like the level is getting there.

Not 100% satisfied with the level that I want to be in, you know, the level that will allow me to maybe go back to top 10 or allow me to compete with amazing players like Coco, Iga, Aryna, Rybakina, you know. I think with them you need to have a certain level.

But it's getting there. I don't want to be greedy just after coming back from an injury. Sometimes I get angry because I feel like I'm getting back there, but every time something happens.

Q. Where do you think is the gap in the level? What do you see right now that is frustrating you decision-wise, execution, fitness? What do you think?

ONS JABEUR: I would say health-wise, if I'm healthy, I feel like I can do better, but I need to be patient. I need to respect also my body, my limits kind of.

But yeah, everything takes time. The good thing with tennis, you never know what could happen. Sometimes you can play unbelievable tennis in two weeks. I know that I have the level. I know I've been there. I've been in a finals. I've been in big tournaments. Level-wise I was really playing well.

I just need to be patient and just kind of execute the shot that I normally do during practice. It needs to be there during matches.

But I am very hopeful for the future.

Q. You certainly got Camila running.

ONS JABEUR: Either I run or she runs, so better that she runs (smiling).

Q. She did a bit more running than you. It was obviously a very physical match. Was that the intention to change it up? I know that's your style of play, but she had to run down an awful lot of dropshots.

ONS JABEUR: I know she's, like, amazing fighter, amazing player on the court. I expected a lot of dropshots from both. Definitely I was ready to take the opportunity before her. My goal kind of today was not to run but to make her run.

Really I was trying to balance, but I'm glad that at these points I was playing better than her. I think maybe she was also confused of me running and suffering at the same time, which I completely understand. I apologize, again, for that.

But yeah, she really got good hands. It was crucial for me to make her run too.

Q. You've got a little bit of time before your third-round match. So given that you're feeling a little bit wheezy and this asthma is a factor, how will that affect your preparations for Round 3? Will there be anything you do differently, slightly less training?

ONS JABEUR: I'll have to ask my coach that (smiling), but yeah, we will have to manage, you know, like we always do. I think I will have to find a way to feel better the next two days, which I am hoping to feel better, because this started kind of two days or three days ago. I feel like it got worse for some reason.

I'm really just taking it one minute at a time and see how it's going to go, but definitely I'm doing everything that I can to be ready. It's going to be very tough third round, so I really have to be ready.

Q. Has this happened before? I know you said that you had asthma as a child, but has this happened in the last few years where you felt out of breath?

ONS JABEUR: Yes, it did. Usually when it's tougher conditions than this, and it happens also at practice, but I can manage, you know, at practice.

But yeah, sometimes I try not to really talk about it because people will blame it on my fitness, which I let them (smiling).