As a wonderful surprise, Ons Jabuer, the Tunisian star, made it to the Wimbledon finals last year. Playing Elena Rybakina both were competing for their first majors title. In a nail-biting three-setter, Rybakina took the trophy. But it was a testament that a face who was considered the unlikely underdog has the potential to compete at the highest level.
1 – For the first time in the Open Era two female players at their maiden Grand Slam final will face each other in the Championship match at #Wimbledon. Surprise.@WTA @WTA_insider #Wimbledon2022 pic.twitter.com/dD5yR5iBTg
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 7, 2022
Ons Jabuer was asked in an interview about how she feels when people mock her. To which she replied, “You find these people everywhere. They underestimate you. I was a big mouth, I talked, I said I want to win grand slams, and people were laughing and they didn’t believe in me. Some people did believe in me.”
Jabuer has a very fluid and flexible movement. She could be jelly athletic as well as strong and composed while returning sonic serves. She has excellent reflexes which help her to reach far-away volleys with full stretch and shoot powerful returns.
Even then, Ons was never a player of the convention. “They used to play a lot of slices before, serve and volley. I like to see the different style. It was very tough to adapt to that game, to that changing rhythm. But I know it annoys a lot of people, and I’m happy to do that.” said Ons. It shows how she loves to confuse her opponents. Ons has often asserted that she enjoys being unpredictable and hard to analyze.
What is lacking in Ons’ gameplay?
Ons Jabeur has exhibited exceptional talent in tennis since her early years, as evidenced by her historic win at the 2011 Roland Garros juniors, where she became the first Arab woman to achieve the feat. Her unique playing style, which is characterized by an array of shots and a desire to showcase them with style, sets her apart from the multitude of flat-hitting baseliners of this era.
“I always do whatever suits me. Sometimes a coach would tell me I do too many drop shots. I’d say: ‘Yeah, sure!’ But I never listen. I’m glad I’m forcing my personality because I’m the one playing on the court, I’m the one doing the shots.” Says Ons.
However, sometimes her eagerness to play all her shots with flair can deviate from strategic gameplay. It is important for Jabeur to follow her coaches’ advice and use her toolbox of shots effectively to succeed on the court.