After her Wimbledon final, Ons Jabeur returned home to Tunisia on Wednesday July 13. Finalist of the last Grand Slam, winner of three titles on the WTA circuit, including the last Masters 1000 in Madrid, the world number 5 has risen in power over the past two years, to the point of reaching second place in the world rankings in June.
Back in Tunis, the player, already a star in her country, was celebrated by hundreds of compatriots. On this occasion, Ons Jabeur confided in the program “Tout le sport”, evoking the popular enthusiasm, her season and her next goals.
“All sport”: It feels good to be back home?
Ons Jabeur: Yes, a lot of good. I hadn’t been home since March. I missed it a lot. I am very happy to be here, especially with the exceptional welcome I received at the airport.
What does this enthusiasm on the part of Tunisians represent?
The recognition of Tunisians makes me so happy. They encourage me to get good results, to win a Grand Slam, and to be number 1 in the world. I realize that I am inspiring a whole people, a people who have never watched tennis too much. But today they watch it in all the cafes. It has almost become the national sport in Tunisia and that makes me so happy.
“I’m so proud to be Tunisian, and especially to represent the Arab world and Africa. It really encourages me to be even more powerful on the circuit.”
Ons Jabeur, world number 5 at the WTAto “All Sports”
You have a nickname in Tunisia. They call you the “Minister of Happiness”…
(Smile) They started calling me that two years ago, it was a nice surprise. And it’s getting more and more popular. During the matches, some also shout this nickname before my service for example.
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Many Tunisian children start playing tennis by taking their cue from you. What does it mean to you to inspire this young generation?
It is enormous. I know that young people are watching me a lot, so I watch what I do on and off the pitch. I really enjoy inspiring young people. They are the future of Tunisian tennis. I try to send the message that you really have to believe in it. When I was younger, I was like them. I wanted so badly to get there and achieve my dreams.
And you, what were your inspirations? How the little girl of the Tennis club of Sousse [dans le nord-est du pays] did she want to play tennis?
My mom loves tennis, and she loved taking me with her to her club. She was playing with her friends. I discovered the racket and the yellow ball there. I fell in love with tournaments. I am someone who loves competition. Then I looked at the Williams sisters, Kim Clijsters, and Andy Roddick. It inspired me.
I had the dream of becoming world number 1. As I was too restless, I put all my energy into tennis. My mother is my heroine. She helped me a lot to get to where I am today. It was his passion, and it became mine.
You have chosen to have a 100% Tunisian team by your side, and you train a lot in your country. Why this choice ?
I am very attached to Tunisia. My whole life is there so I needed a staff who really understood me, who understood Tunisian culture, and who understood the challenges of a Tunisian player.
But the staff is 90% Tunisian because my mental trainer is French, even if she has become Tunisian now (laughs). Even when she encourages me, she tries to speak to me in Arabic. It makes me happy to have a team that believes in me and pushes me. And sharing this with Tunisians touches me even more.
Next September, a new WTA tournament will see the light of day, in Monastir, Tunisia. Did you participate in the project?
Yes, I pushed a little to have the authorizations to organize this tournament. I know I have a big fan club in Tunisia, waiting for me to play at home, and people can’t really travel to see me. It is also an opportunity to give a good image of Tunisia, to show young people what a professional tournament looks like.
Your season is amazing. You won the Masters 1000 in Madrid, the grass title in Berlin and reached the Wimbledon final. How have you lived these last months?
With lots of emotions. I love grass, so I had a very good preparation winning in Berlin. Arriving at Wimbledon, I felt the welcome from the English, it was enormous. I said to myself, we will play game by game, and we will see what will happen. I had this dream of winning this Grand Slam. It didn’t happen today but I hope it will happen one day.
What is your next goal?
I want to win a Grand Slam, win more titles and be number 1 in the world. They are always the same dreams. I am very happy with my level, because I feel that I am progressing a lot. And I feel that I deserved the place of number 2 in the world. The most important thing for me is to have the level, to be present in the top 5, and to be a difficult player to beat for my opponents.