Ons Jabeur says she has her sights set on the grass season following her defeat to Beatriz Haddad Maia in the quarter-finals of the French Open on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Tunisian was making her first appearance on the clay courts of Rolland Garros but was unable to stop Haddad Maia in the 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 1-6 defeat.
Jabeur acknowledged it was a tough match for her and also admitted she should have been more aggressive against her Brazilian opponent who will get to meet world number one Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals on Thursday.
“You don’t want to know how I feel?,” Jabeur said at a press conference.
“Yeah, difficult match. I mean, it’s never easy playing Maia, but she played really well. She was probably more physically ready than me, but it is what it is.
“It is tennis and grass season already started in my head.
“I thought maybe I should have been more aggressive or maybe should have stepped in more in the second set, especially I had my chance at five-all I think.
“But yeah, it’s never easy. I tried not to regret things because they hurt at night. You know, they don’t let you sleep well, but that’s tennis, unfortunately.”
Merci Paris, that was magic ???? Thank you for the support ???????? ???????? ???????? pic.twitter.com/RkPePMUEI1
— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) June 7, 2023
The French Open concludes this season after which the tennis calendar switches to the grass courts in the lead-up to Wimbledon, the second Grand Slam of the year.
Jabeur reached the final at SW19 last year but lost in three sets to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.
