"Maybe the old me would have lost": Jabeur evolved as a person after 2022 heartbreak, intends to cash in with 2023 Wimbledon Final win
WTA
Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur believes that she has grown into a
better player after cementing yet another final berth at Wimbledon.
The current world number six defeated the number two-seed Aryna
Sabalenka in the semifinal of the third Grand Slam of the year with a score of
6-7, 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday.
The victory was indeed a special one, considering Jabeur now
has an opportunity to improve what she did last year where she suffered a
defeat in the final against Elena Rybakina with a score of 3–6, 6–2, 6–2.
Talking after the match, Jabeur was of the opinion that an
older version of her would’ve lost the game and also revealed that she has
worked on her mental strength in the recent past as well.
“I’m very proud of myself because maybe the old me would have
lost the match today and went back home already,” she said. “But I’m glad that
I kept digging very deep and finding the strength. Maybe also a little bit
before, like six months ago. [I’m] a different player. … I’m working on myself
like crazy. You have no idea what I’m doing – I’m very tough with myself, try
to improve everything.
“For me, I always believed in mental, in working on it.
That’s what I’ve been doing for the past years since I was maybe 10 years old
because I know if you are not ready physically, mentally you can always win. I
would say I always believed. But sometimes you would question and doubt it if
it’s going to happen, if it’s ever going to happen. Being in the last stages, I
think it does help you believe more.
“For me, I’m going to learn a lot from not only Wimbledon’s
final but also US Open final, and give it my best. Maybe this year was all
about trying two times and getting it right the third time.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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