Jabeur wants to inspire with historic Australian Open run
By Chiara Palazzo, dpa
As she becomes the first Arab woman to make it into Grand Slam quarters, Ons Jabeur says she wants to inspire young people at home.
Melbourne (dpa) - Tunisia's Ons Jabeur wants to inspire young people at home and the wider Arabic world with her historic run at the Australian Open.
The world number 78 on Sunday upset a second seed at the Australian Open to become the first Arab - man or woman - to make it to the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam after sending China's Qiang Wang packing.
"I'm really shaking right now, it's unbelievable. I can't describe how I feel," the Tunisian said after the match.
The 25-year-old's run in Melbourne had already made some history when on Friday she defeated 2018 champion Caroline Wozniacki - in the final match of the Danish star's career - to become the first Arab woman to reach the round of 16.
When the new rankings come out next week, the Tunisian will also become the first Arab woman to crack the top 50.
Jabeur also defeated 12th seed Johanna Konta in the first round and France's Caroline Garcia in the second in her first back-to-back wins at a major.
Her win over 27th seed Wang, who beat 23-time Grand Slam champion to reach the fourth round, was the first at the third time of asking, having won a total of seven games in their previous two encounters.
"I'm trying. I mean, quarter-finals for the first time, trying to inspire many young [people] back home either in Tunisia or the Arabic world, especially in Africa, which is amazing.
"I mean, it's not impossible. I made it. Like I said before, I've been practising in Tunisia from the age of three through 16 or 17. I'm 100 per cent Tunisian product," she added smiling.
Jabeur, who in 2011 as a junior won the girls' singles at Roland Garros, hopes her success in Australia will inspire people in at home.
"Hopefully they can still watch me and following more, just not in the Grand Slam but the other tournaments. It will be really amazing. I hope really I can give a good example. Hopefully I can do more here. Hopefully can go really good," the North African said.
Jabeur also spoke about how things have changed in Tunisia - the birthplace of the 2011 Arab Spring revolts - since her junior French Open title.
"A lot of things changed actually when I won the juniors, after 2011. It was little bit tough after the revolution. It was not really safe at the time. Now everything, like, is normal," she said.
"We don't have much experience. That's the only thing we don't have .... But hopefully now we can see more and more [Tunisian players]. Maybe one day I can share my experience."
The world number 78 on Sunday upset a second seed at the Australian Open to become the first Arab - man or woman - to make it to the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam after sending China's Qiang Wang packing.
"I'm really shaking right now, it's unbelievable. I can't describe how I feel," the Tunisian said after the match.
The 25-year-old's run in Melbourne had already made some history when on Friday she defeated 2018 champion Caroline Wozniacki - in the final match of the Danish star's career - to become the first Arab woman to reach the round of 16.
When the new rankings come out next week, the Tunisian will also become the first Arab woman to crack the top 50.
Jabeur also defeated 12th seed Johanna Konta in the first round and France's Caroline Garcia in the second in her first back-to-back wins at a major.
Her win over 27th seed Wang, who beat 23-time Grand Slam champion to reach the fourth round, was the first at the third time of asking, having won a total of seven games in their previous two encounters.
"I'm trying. I mean, quarter-finals for the first time, trying to inspire many young [people] back home either in Tunisia or the Arabic world, especially in Africa, which is amazing.
"I mean, it's not impossible. I made it. Like I said before, I've been practising in Tunisia from the age of three through 16 or 17. I'm 100 per cent Tunisian product," she added smiling.
Jabeur, who in 2011 as a junior won the girls' singles at Roland Garros, hopes her success in Australia will inspire people in at home.
"Hopefully they can still watch me and following more, just not in the Grand Slam but the other tournaments. It will be really amazing. I hope really I can give a good example. Hopefully I can do more here. Hopefully can go really good," the North African said.
Jabeur also spoke about how things have changed in Tunisia - the birthplace of the 2011 Arab Spring revolts - since her junior French Open title.
"A lot of things changed actually when I won the juniors, after 2011. It was little bit tough after the revolution. It was not really safe at the time. Now everything, like, is normal," she said.
"We don't have much experience. That's the only thing we don't have .... But hopefully now we can see more and more [Tunisian players]. Maybe one day I can share my experience."
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