Ons Jabeur is unfazed by the lack of media spotlight on her after she progressed into the French Open third round on Wednesday.
The Tunisian star overcame Colombia’s Maria Camila Osorio 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to reach the third round at Roland Garros for fifth time in her career.
The form of Jabeur has dropped since reaching last year’s Wimbledon final where she lost to Marketa Vondrousova and was denied the chance to become the first African to win a tennis grand slam.
Her best result since then was triumph at the WTA 250 event in Ningbo, China while her best result in 2024 has been quarter-final finishes in Abu Dhabi and Madrid.
Jabeur has dropped to ninth in the world rankings but was seeded eighth for the French Open after American Jessica Pegula pulled out of the second Grand Slam of the year.
“Yeah, I mean, I don’t mind. Obviously I am what I am today, and if people are not talking about me like they’re talking about Iga or Aryna or Rybakina is for a reason,” Jabeur said.
“I just want to have what I deserve. I deserve to be in the spot 8 or 9, because Pegula pulled out. Yeah, that’s tennis. I am hanging in there. I’m trying to get back to my level or at least very close to the level I was in.
“It’s not easy, you know. But nothing is sure about tennis. You can play unbelievable and lose, and you can play shitty and win.”
Ons Jabeur after her win 🎙️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/mdUipETl3o
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 29, 2024
Reflecting on her victory over Osorio in which was broken six times, Jabeur said: “Obviously tough conditions for me. I don’t like when the ball gets too heavy. I didn’t know how to manage much in the second set but I’m glad I turned it back in the third one.
“I was trying to be more aggressive. Obviously when the balls are new, it’s even better for me. I felt like it was a bit humid inside that court… I would say, a lot humid.”
Jabeur will get to face the winner of the second round match between Leylah Fernandez and Xiyu Wang in the next round.
