"Is it a plus or a minus?": Middle East fanfare could help or hurt Ons Jabeur admits Martina Navratilova
WTASunday, 11 February 2024 at 23:30
18-times
Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova has chosen Ons Jabeur as one of the
players who could find a boost in the Middle East tournaments. The Tunisian has
yet to find consistency in 2024 and will likely have the crowd on her side as
the primary Arab hope in the Doha Qatar Open and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Despite
Jabeur not being in her best form, Navratilova believes that the upcoming WTA
1000 events could be an opportune moment for Jabeur to regain her momentum:
"It will be interesting to see if the pressure of 'playing at home' hurts
her or helps her. These are her countries; she represents everybody there. Is
it a plus or a minus?"
According
to Navratilova, if Jabeur achieves good results, it could provide her with
renewed confidence for the upcoming season: "She got beaten badly by
Andreeva, so I don’t think her confidence is too high,” the former world No. 1
added.
“That she
lost wasn’t bad, but how she lost was. But maybe, hopefully, playing there will
bring the confidence back -- a new sense of confidence, energy concentration. I
hope so because the game is better with her near the top."
Read also
Inconsistent start to Jabeur's season
The World No. 6 kicked off her season directly at the
Australian Open without any preceding tournaments. After a first-round victory
against Yulia Starodubtseva, who came through the qualifiers, she faced a
decisive defeat in the second round against the 16-year-old sensation Mirra
Andreeva, losing 0-6, 2-6.
In the early stages of the Middle East tour, she
entered the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open as the second seed. Despite a convincing win
over Emma Raducanu (6-4, 6-1) in the first round, she bowed out in the
quarterfinals against the World No. 13, Beatriz Haddad Maia (6-3, 6-4). Despite
Haddad Maia being a formidable opponent, Jabeur experienced physical
difficulties in the second set, shedding tears during the match due to knee
pain.
"I have been struggling with the knee for a long
time, and last week was very, very tough," Jabeur said Sunday at Media Day
in Doha. "Hopefully I can recover in time and then play better here in
Doha.”
In the Doha Open, she will be the 4th seed and will
face the Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko (No. 37). The Tunisian did not participate in
Middle East tournaments last year, so she does not defend points until March at
Indian Wells.
"For me personally, it is very important to be
here to connect with Arabic crowds. I feel so much love here in the region, and
obviously that’s one of the reasons I chose to play Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai,
because I feel so good here,” Jabeur added.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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