US Open 2023: Ons Jabeur targets back-to-back

Ons Jabeur arrives at the US Open still feeling the effects of her painful defeat at Wimbledon. The Tunisian even took a break after losing the Wimbledon final. But the best African player is still struggling to swallow it. "That's exactly it. Honestly, I wasn't ready for Montreal, it was too soon and I felt I still needed some time for myself. They say time heals everything. I still need a bit more. The defeat at Wimbledon really hurt," Jabeur confided in L'Equipe.

But time away from the court has done her good. Ons Jabeur says: "I feel better than I did a month ago, of course. I'm 28 and I'm learning from my mistakes, notably playing tournament after tournament without stopping. I'm quite proud to have been able to step back and spend time with my family. Now I'm ready for the tournaments ahead."

Jabeur only returned at the Cincinnati Masters 1000, where she was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Aryana Sabalenka. And physically, Jabeur was struggling. "I always try to be at 100%, but it's difficult. I'm doing my best to be ready and it's going well. But I'm taking it step by step and we'll see how it goes." At the 2023 US Open, Ons Jabeur begins her campaign on Tuesday 29 August. The No 5 seed will face Colombia's Camila Osorio Serrano (66th).

Read also: Ons Jabeur: "Everything takes time with me, unfortunately"