“It’s been a tough period for me,” Ons Jabeur elated after beating Ekaterina Alexandrova in Stuttgart

Ons Jabeur will face Jasmine Paolini in the second round of the tournament.

“It’s been a tough period for me,” Ons Jabeur elated after beating Ekaterina Alexandrova in Stuttgart

Ons Jabeur (Via Imago)

After a poor start to the season and a struggle with a knee injury, Tunisian ace Ons Jabeur has begun to build her confidence on the court after a remarkable victory. The 29-year-old defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova in her opening match at the Stuttgart.

Jabeur was heading into the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in a poor run of form that has seen her winless in her last five games. She started the match against Alexandrova on the wrong foot, losing multiple serves and breakpoints. 

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The first set ended with the Tunisian down 2-6. However, after the break, she grew into the game earning the first point, and then capitalized on Alexandrova’s mistakes to win the second set 6-3.

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In the third set, despite Alexandrova’s aggressiveness, Jabeur looked brighter, winning 56% of her serve and winning the tie 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1). Speaking after her victory, she revealed that she was going through a tough period, but fellow Tunisians kept encouraging her.

It’s been a tough period for me. Confidence wise I’m trying to build it up. Very grateful for the Tunisians.. Because everywhere I go, I find them.
Ons Jabeur said

The 29-year-old will face Italian Jasmine Paolini in the second round of the tournament. Paolini also routed her fellow Italian Sara Errani 6-1, 6-0 to advance and look set for another major upset in clay season following her victory in Dubai in February.

Meanwhile, Jabeur will be hoping she gets one step above last year’s semifinal reach in Stuttgart. The Tunisian retired after suffering an injury against Iga Swiatek while 3-0 down in the first set.

Ons Jabeur’s struggles this season have been mind-blowing

Ons Jabeur’s season has been mired by defeats, despite her remarkable win against Ekaterina Alexandrova in Stuttgart. The last win the Tunisian earned was in February against British star Emma Raducanu, 6-4, 6-1. However, eventually lost to Beatriz Haddad Mia in the quarterfinals.

Ons Jabeur
Ons Jabeur (Via Imago)

Her biggest success was finishing as runners-up in Wimbledon last year. However, her only four-match winning run in the last eight months came when she won the Ningbo Open title in September 2023, beating Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1.

This season alone, she has won only three matches and lost six in six tournaments. At the Sunshine Doubles, she lost to low-ranking players in the first round. She tried turning her misfortune around but was met with stiff opposition at the Charleston Open. Danielle Collins defeated her 3-6, 6-1, 3-6.

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