Jabeur is eager to turn the page on her own tennis story, as she returned to the courts in January after recovering from a shoulder injury that forced her to pull out of last year’s US Open. Having not competed since August, the Tunisian shut down the rest of her season after hitting a point where she “wasn’t enjoying much” on the court.
Nicknamed the Minister of Happiness by tennis fans in Tunisia, the sport’s top-ranked Arab player was also forced to miss part of the Middle East swing last year due to a knee injury. Now, she’s returned to the region with a vengeance after reaching the quarterfinals in Abu Dhabi, losing to Elena Rybakina in three sets, and kicking off her Doha campaign with a confident 6-2, 6-0 win over McCartney Kessler.
Read More: Elena Rybakina defeats Ons Jabeur in dramatic Abu Dhabi clash
“Definitely more refreshed than one year ago. Injury-wise, I am much better, and looking forward to playing this season,” Jabeur told press ahead of the tournament.
“Comparing to last year, I think I was pretty tired, and I have couple injuries that didn’t help me perform well, but this year is a new year, and definitely a better me, on and off the court… I’m pretty happy with my level, and I know the level could be better.”
Up next, Jabeur will face No. 7 seed Zheng Qinwen on Tuesday for a place in the semifinals.
