Iga Swiatek makes a special request to Ons Jabeur recalling the horrors of last year as the players compete at the 2023 WTA Finals

Iga Swiatek makes a special request to Ons Jabeur recalling the horrors of last year as the players compete at the 2023 WTA Finals

Ons Jabeur scaring Iga Swiatek(L) and Iga Swiatek with Ons Jabeur(R) (Image via @iga_swiatek/X and BBC)

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has requested Ons Jabeur to not make a repeat of last year’s experience. At the same time last year, Swiatek had a scare when the Tunisian sneaked up behind the Pole dressed up in a Halloween costume and scared her to her wit’s end.

The duo have a healthy rivalry between themselves on the court. Both players being some of the best in their category, have a natural rivalry between them on the court. However, they have a good relationship off the court. They have managed to maintain a good friendship, despite having to fight each other for some of the biggest titles in the sport.

YouTube video

The WTA Finals have always followed a similar schedule each year. This consistent schedule saw the players celebrating Halloween at the same tournament. However, the players were in the United States, where Halloween is a big part of the culture. When the Pole was seated in an interview, Jabeur made a hilarious attempt at pranking her friend. She was seen dressed up in a Halloween costume, sneaking up behind Swiatek. When the Tunisian scared the former World No. 1 from behind her back, Swiatek drowned the room with her screams as she was genuinely terrified by this unexpected interruption.

FS Video

However, on the same day in 2023, the Pole took to Twitter(Now called X) to request the Tunisian to not do it again. The four-time Grand Slam champion posted, as she requested the three-time Grand Slam finalist: 

Don't try this today Ons Jabeur please.
Iga Swiatek on X

Nevertheless, it was a display of the sound relationship between the pair, showing fans that the on-court rivalries do not reflect on their relationship outside the tour.

Iga Swiatek set to face Ons Jabeur at the WTA Finals

Former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is set to face Ons Jabeur in the group stages of the WTA Finals at Cancun, Mexico. Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Marketa Vondrousova are placed in the same group so the quad will be playing matches against each other to qualify for the semi-finals.

Ons Jabeur and Iga Swiatek
Ons Jabeur and Iga Swiatek(Image via Daily Express)

While Swiatek has won her match against Vodrousova, Jabeur is yet to see success. She lost her first match against American Coco Gauff and she will now proceed to her next match against Vondrousova. The group stages will finally see Swiatek and Jabeur playing against each other, the seventh meeting between the duo.

While both players are playing their best possible games, they will need to give an extra bit of effort if they wish to defeat the other. While Swiatek dominates their head-to-head, 4-2, she will still have to play her best game.

In case you missed it: