Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has revealed the emotional toll of her loss in the 2023 Wimbledon Championships final against Marketa Vondrousova. In an upcoming documentary titled ‘This is Me,’ set for release on Sunday, January 7, Jabeur candidly shares the challenges she faced, both professionally and personally.
In the Wimbledon final last year, Jabeur faced Czech player Marketa Vondrousova and suffered a 6-4, 6-4 defeat, marking her second consecutive loss in a Wimbledon final. The documentary promises an intimate look into Jabeur’s experiences and the impact of the defeat on her and her husband, Karim Kamoun.
Jabeur disclosed that the pressure of winning the title was not solely about achieving her maiden Grand Slam victory but also tied to a personal dream of starting a family. The defeat, she explained, meant the immediate loss of an opportunity to have a baby with her husband.
“People think I have this pressure because I want to do it for other people, which is not true. There was a personal thing going on there. I win that [final], I could have a baby right away. And that dream faded. I was haunted by fear. After all I’m just a human being, what can I do more?” Jabeur expressed in the documentary.
The emotional impact of the defeat was profound for Jabeur, who admitted that it was the toughest loss of her career. She shared that both she and her husband shed tears after the final, as the defeat shattered their shared dream of starting a family.
“It was the toughest loss of my career because emotionally it destroyed me, not only winning Wimbledon, but the idea of having a baby just vanished with the trophy of Wimbledon. So I think that’s what killed me and Karim, we were crying like babies,” she added.
Despite the emotional setback, Jabeur emphasized her determination to win a Grand Slam title, stating it as her “life’s mission.” She acknowledged the fear of competing in another major final but expressed the necessity to pursue her ambitions on the court.
“It scares me so much to go back and play a final, but I know I have to do this. I want to do bigger things than just a Grand Slam, but it will be a shame, a missing piece if I don’t make that one. I have to [win a slam], I have no choice, maybe it’s my life’s mission to do it,” Jabeur explained in the documentary.
Jabeur has reached three Grand Slam finals to date, facing defeats in the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, the 2022 US Open, and the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. The upcoming documentary promises a glimpse into the personal and professional journey of a determined athlete striving to overcome setbacks and pursue her dreams on and off the court.
Ons Jabeur in 2024
Now ranked no.6, Jabeur played her last match on the 3rd of November 2023 when she capitulated to world no.1 Iga Swiatek 6-1 6-2 in the round robin in Cancun (draw).
This season Jabeur has an overall 36-17 match record.
Ons Jabeur |
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