Mubadala World Tennis Championship: Ons Jabeur’s contrasting appearances

James Richardson 16 Dec 2022 10:42 AM

Ons Jabeur could have no clearer indication of the progress she has made in 2022 that she was among the first names announced for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

The exhibition in the UAE has sought to attract the biggest names in the game and Jabeur was an early get.

Last season, she was a late replacement but as the most prominent Arab woman in the sport now it is clear that she belongs in these glitzy exhibitions.

Jabeur has now set out her stall to win some Grand Slams and achieve the remaining goals she has for her career.

“It was a crazy year, a lot of emotions, a lot of great results,” Jabeur, 28, told reporters at the MWTC media day on Thursday.

“I always like to set the bar really high for myself, and I’m always happy to achieve my targets, so I want to use the experiences of 2022 to be ready for 2023, with much higher goals.

“Definitely I want to be world No 1, I want to win Grand Slam titles, and hopefully the experience of being in the far stages of a lot of tournaments will help me be ready for 2023.”

Jabeur has been working hard in training ahead of what will be a big season for the Tunisian star.

“Tough! (My team) have been killing me but it’s part of the process,” she said when asked about her training.

“We had a great training and fitness camp and started tennis slowly, so this match at Mubadala will definitely help me be ready for 2023.”

Jabeur, the first Arab woman to win a WTA 1000 event, is delighted to spread her love of tennis across the Arab world.

“It’s always nice to be in Abu Dhabi, always nice to be in an Arab country,” Jabeur said. “It feels like home. Every time I meet Arabic fans they’re always so supportive and it really touches me. Hopefully the stadium will be full tomorrow.”

Jabeur will face Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu on a stacked day one lineup in Abu Dhabi.

The programme commences with Greek world No 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas taking on top-ranked British man Cameron Norrie.

Eighth-ranked Andrey Rublev will take on Borna Coric of Croatia, ranked N. 26 in the world, who assumes Frances Tiafoe’s position at the exhibition after the American injured himself and withdrew from the event.

In the men’s event Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud have bye into the last four.