Ons Jabeur happy to be a ‘doubles specialist’ and learn from ‘inspirational’ Serena Williams

She was meant to be on double duty at the Eastbourne International, but Ons Jabeur decided to skip the singles and focus on the doubles alongside “legend” Serena Williams.
Jabeur started her grass-court campaign with the Berlin Open title on Sunday and she was due to play both singles and doubles in England this week.
However, the Tunisian took the “smart” decision and withdrew from the singles.
How to get cool after your match?
Take a dip in the lake! 💦@Ons_Jabeur | #bett1open pic.twitter.com/zjDkNlNCjw
— wta (@WTA) June 19, 2022
“I decided to withdraw from singles and be a doubles specialist this week,” the 27-year-old said. “It has been a great week in Berlin and I feel like I need to really be smart about this decision so I’m just playing doubles this week.”
She added: I feel it would be too much for me to play. I don’t feel like I want to do the same mistake that I did in the French Open. But, for me, I just want to be ready to really let go for three weeks now.
“I’m feeling okay, nothing hurts, but maybe I learned a little bit from the past and I try to be ready for Wimbledon.”
The big reasons why she opted to focus on the doubles is because she is teaming up with 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams, who will return to action for the first time in nearly 12 months.
Tennis great Williams has been out of action since Wimbledon last year after picking up a leg injury, but she will return to SW19 next week after accepting a wildcard.
With the American needing game time before the grass-court Grand Slam, Jabeur had no hesitation to accept an invitation to play alongside Williams.
“Serena is such a fighter on the court. I really admire her story, admire everything that she did for us, for women’s tennis,” the world No 3 said.
“I was lucky enough to be on tour with her a little bit and that she spoke to me a couple of times and that she recognised me, she knows my name, I’m talking away before in 2017.
“She’s such an inspiration and the fact that we’re playing doubles together. It’s huge news for me and it’s unbelievable, I honestly never expected her to pick me or even to play doubles after a long time.
“But I feel like I’m going way back and all the memories of watching her winning a lot of Grand Slams. I hope it’s not going to make me too nervous, standing next to her.”
Latest
-
French Open
Carlos Alcaraz ‘really happy with my level’ after win over world number 97
World number one dropped set to world number 97.
-
French Open
Cameron Norrie ‘sorry to take another Frenchman out’ at French Open
The British number one took on the French Open crowd again in a 6-1 6-3 6-3 victory.
-
News
Home hope Caroline Garcia suffers shock exit at Roland Garros
Garcia saved eight match points but could not find a way through to the last 32.
-
French Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas says that playing on clay cleanses his soul
Stefanos Tsitsipas really loves playing on clay and he isn’t afraid to let it show.
-
French Open
Peyton Stearns credits college tennis with preparing her for intense French Open atmosphere
Peyton Stearns upset former French Open champions Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
-
French Open
Elina Svitolina weathers Hunter Storm onslaught to secure Round of 32 place
Elina Svitolina defeated qualifier Storm Hunter in the second round of Roland Garros.
-
French Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas slugs his way into French Open third round
Stefanos Tsitsipas has won through to the third round of the French Open with a straight sets victory over Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.
-
French Open
Novak Djokovic’s Kosovo remarks condemned by the French Minister of Sports
Djokovic wrote “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence” on a camera.
-
French Open
Fitness-focused Gael Monfils dubs himself ‘crazy’
Gael Monfils had to overcome cramps and a double break deficit in the fifth set to down Sebastian Baez.
-
French Open
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova feared her career was over
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova said that her knee injury was so severe that she “couldn’t walk or sit down”.