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It has been a difficult start to the 2023 season for Ons Jaber and there are doubts about whether she will regain her best form, but worries are fading as she extends her unbeaten run to seven matches.
Jaber got off to a good start to the campaign when she lost her second Australian Open and was then forced to skip the Middle East swing due to injury.
She bounced back and made it to Sunshine Doubles, but lost in the third round of the Indian Wells Open and the second round of the Miami Open.
Unsurprisingly, the two-time Grand Slam winner had doubts about her future.
Sometimes I feel, it’s okay, I didn’t start the year well, the most important thing is to take care of my health, and everything happens for a reason, and everything that is meant to be, as long as I give the Tunisian one hundred percent and follow what I have to follow, this year will be. WTATennis.com.
“On the other hand, ‘Oh, the other girls are playing really well. Will I return to the same level or not? But I decided to come back here and play against Indian Wells/Miami to show that I’m still alive.
And when she returns to form at the Charleston Open in early April, beating the likes of Daria Katkina and Belinda Bencic, she will certainly still be alive to claim her first title since June last year.
#Stuttgart 🔥 A baby who entered the quarter finals 💪🏼 #Yalahabibi #PorcheTennis pic.twitter.com/09CgixebNj
– Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) April 19, 2023
«Charleston was honestly an unexpected title,» Jabeur said. “For me, I was taking it one step at a time. I was trying to find more motivation and I just found my rhythm on the court.
“I was very, very patient, even though sometimes it didn’t go my way. I know I’ve been playing really well with other players during practice, and now I’m going to continue and do that. The main thing is to be patient and wait for my game to come back.»
And the former world No. 2 is in fine form as she chases down the Charleston title with a 1-6 win over a red-hot Jelena Ostapenko in the second round of the Stuttgart Open. , 7-5, 6-3.
«Definitely patience was one of the keys, but the most important thing is to accept that she’s doing well and hitting winners. It’s her game, after all,» said the 28-year-old. She deserves to win, obviously.
“I think, especially in the return games, the more patient I am, the better I play, especially if I just get one ball back and drive more. I think I’m getting more rhythm.»
Jaber will face either Beatrix Haddad Mia or Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals, with world No. 1 Iga Sviatek as her semifinal opponent.
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