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Before Ons Jabeur wins the Grand Slam and can she get over the line in 2023?
Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick says Jaber is a better player than some recent major champions and has an all-court game that has given her four chances to win Grand Slam titles.
Roddick said he is a big fan of the Tunisian not only for her game but also for the way she carries herself off the court.
«Her game draws you in, the way she plays; I think that’s the way she plays. As a fan of hers, I think it’s both scary and exciting at the same time to not know what’s coming next,» Roddick said. Eurosport
“I think what makes me a fan is you hear what other people are saying about her behind the scenes. And if you hear it long enough, you’ll know it’s true. So I think that makes you a fan, too.
Roddick would be shocked if Jabeur ends her career without a Grand Slam title.
She is a more complete player – I can play on two decks, not all. So that gives her four opportunities a year, as opposed to maybe I had a chance in Australia, but definitely not in Paris,” he said.
“Her game seems defined and she seems to have the tennis IQ to get in and out. (An) open (draw) means our next champions haven’t won yet, that’s all. It means that the familiar faces are aging or missing or damaged or in transition.
“There’s no reason why you can’t win a Grand Slam. You can say that there are people who beat her, maybe she is better.
The former US Open champion met Jaber in New York late last year after reuniting with her husband.
Roddick ran into Kareem first but just missed a meeting with the 2022 US Open runner-up.
Jabeur was disappointed not to meet Roddick, but not before the legend and future icon was officially introduced.
“I couldn’t see him. My husband Karim saw him and introduced himself and said hello, but I wasn’t there. I blame Karim,” Jaber joked at the press conference.
“Where’s Andy Roddick at? I want to see him. I missed it by like a second.
Jaber eventually met Roddick but failed to match him in winning the US Open.
It was Jaber’s second Grand Slam final loss after going down to Elena Rabakina at Wimbledon earlier in the same season.
Ironically, Jaber has a very poor record at the French Open when she should be very strong and has failed to make it past the last 16 at Roland Garros.
In the year If she can continue to develop as she has shown in 2023, it may just be her last year.
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