Ons Jabeur on teaming up with Serena Williams: ‘Really lucky that she picked me. I’m really nervous’

Fresh from winning her second title of the season and rising to a career-high No 3 in the WTA Rankings, Ons Jabeur admits she is “nervous” ahead of her next big challenge: teaming up with Serena Williams in the doubles at Eastbourne.
Jabeur is on a roll this year as in May she became the first African and Arab player to win a WTA 1000 title when she lifted the Madrid Open crowned. Then on Sunday she won the WTA 500 Berlin Open and jumped to No 3 in the rankings.
The 27-year-old is set for double duty at this week’s Eastbourne International as she is seeded second in the singles while she will also partner 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams in the doubles.
Williams, who is using the event as a warm-up for Wimbledon after nearly a year on the sidelines, only confirmed last week that she will team up with the Tunisian, who had to keep the news from her friends.
The news is OUT 📰@serenawilliams x @Ons_Jabeur are ready to pair up in Eastbourne! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/7goekAfqFg
— wta (@WTA) June 14, 2022
“I wanted to tell everyone but obviously I couldn’t,” Jabeur told the official WTA website. “I told my family, but even my close friends, I didn’t tell anyone.
“Excited, really lucky that she picked me. I’m pretty glad that I can share the court with her. I always watched Serena playing and always supported her. She’s such a legend and such an example for our sport. I’m really nervous to play. I hope the match will be great and we’ll have great matches.”
Venus Williams’ coach, Eric Hechtmann, will be working with Serena in Eastbourne and Wimbledon following her split from Patrick Mouratoglou and he reached out to Jabeur’s team before the French Open in May.
“I don’t know why she picked me to be honest. Maybe she watched Madrid,” Jabeur joked.
She added: “I met her a few times outside the court and she was always nice. I remember exchanging pins with her in Rio. I respect her so much.”
Jabeur and Williams will face Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo in the first round at Eastbourne on Tuesday.
Latest
-
Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal casts doubts over his Wimbledon future in honest press conference
Rafael Nadal has revealed his family were calling for him to quit in his Wimbledon quarter-final against Taylor Fritz.
-
Wimbledon
Injured Rafael Nadal stages incredible fightback to reach Wimbledon semis
Nadal struggled with an abdominal injury but booked a last-four clash with Nick Kyrgios by fighting back from two sets to one down.
-
Wimbledon
Simona Halep reaches new heights despite stuttering comeback
Simona Halep is now a far more complete player than when she won her first two Grand Slams.
-
Wimbledon
Look away: Nick Kyrgios will ruin your whole match and your game
The key to beating Nick Kyrgios is focus says Mats Wilander.
-
Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios stays in the hunt for Wimbledon glory with last eight triumph
The controversial Australian saw off Cristian Garin to reach his maiden grans slam semi-final.
-
Wimbledon
Cameron Norrie’s great weapon is his fitness says coach
Facundo Lugones has coached Norrie for his whole career since they were team-mates at college in Texas.
-
Wimbledon
Maria Sharapova an ideal role model for Emma Raducanu
Former Wimbledon winner Bartoli believes there are many similarities between the two teenage champions.
-
Wimbledon
Elena Rybakina becomes Kazakhstan’s first Wimbledon semi-finalist
Elena Rybakina dropped her first set of the Championships but reached a maiden semi-final in SW19.
-
Wimbledon
Simona Halep unbeaten in 12 at Wimbledon and semi-final beckons
The two-time grand-slam winner needed only 63 minutes to get past her American rival in the last eight.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon day 10: Follow the action from SW19 with Tennis365’s live scores and results centre here…
Catch the action from Wimbledon with our live scores and results centre…