Ons Jabeur and Naomi Osaka team up for doubles at the Abu Dhabi Open! Here’s all we know

Both the players are looking for a new start after a poor outing in the recently concluded 2024 Australian Open.

Ons Jabeur and Naomi Osaka team up for doubles at the Abu Dhabi Open! Here’s all we know

Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur (Credits: Tennis.com & CNN)

In a surprising move, Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur have decided to team up for doubles. The two ladies will compete alongside each other in the 2024 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. The event is scheduled from 5th to 11th February 2024 in Abu Dhabi.

The decision is smart from both the players’ perspective. Neither of them had a good outing in Australia this year. Jabeur started her season directly at the 2024 Australian Open. Osaka and Jabeur had also practiced together before the start of the Major.

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Jabeur lost to the 16-year-old teen sensation Mirra Andreeva. The Tunisian was served a bagel as well during her second-round defeat. Osaka began her season in the Brisbane Open but fell in the second round. She next played at the Grand Slam in Melbourne Park.

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The return for the two-time Australian Open champ was not a happy one, as she lost in the first round to Caroline Garcia. With both ladies in need of some extra match practice, the decision to team up is brilliant.

The pair will make the main draw courtesy of a wildcard from the tournament. This will be the first time the two will play together.

The growing bond between Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur

Both, Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur, have lately been on very good terms with each other. With their joint practice session being one such example, their off-court activities are also aligning with each other.

Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur
Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur (Image via: Imago)

The four-time Grand Slam title winner recently welcomed the former World No. 2 as a part owner in her NWSL team North Carolina Courage. The Japanese had also opened up recently on how the two broke the ice between them and started a good friendship on the Tour.

Fun times can be expected from the pairing of the two friends. Both of them are also part of the singles draw as well. While Jabeur made it directly into the main draw due to her rankings, the former World No. 1 was handed a wildcard to avoid playing the qualifiers.

The two have just one head-to-head meeting between them. It happened in the third round of the 2021 Australian Open with Osaka winning the tie in straight sets on her way to the title.

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