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Ons Jabeur of Tunisia celebrates her victory over Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia after the women’s singles match on the second day of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 17, 2023. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP)
Second seed Ons Jabeur’s quest for her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open began with a 7-6 (10/8), 4-6, 6-1 victory over unforced error-stricken Tamara Zidansek on Tuesday.
The Tunisian was runner-up at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, but had to beat world number 98 Slovenia on the roof of the Rod Laver Arena in a 2 hour 17 minute battle.
Jabeur has set a twin target in 2023 to become the first Arab and African woman to win one of the four tennis majors and oust Iga Swiatek from the number one ranking.
But the 28-year-old, who has been strapping on his left knee, suffered early nerves as he took to Melbourne Park’s center court for the night session on day two.
Jabeur dropped the opening service game but came right back.
“Massage people, massage!” 😂@Ons_Jabeur • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/DqBJ86ONon
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2023
More breaks were exchanged before a strong Jabeur eventually defeated Slovenia 10-8 in an attritional tiebreak at the end of the first set which lasted 68 minutes.
Serving at 3-4 in the second, Jabeur broke for the third time and Zidansek took advantage to level the match.
But after a full interval between sets, Jabeur cleaned up his play, made fewer mistakes and clinched the victory.
“I just tried to follow what my coach told me,” she said of her turnaround in the third set.
“I didn’t do it and they were going to kill me after the match,” he joked.
Jabeur committed 49 unforced errors in a stuttering opening match, but only six came in a much-improved third set.
“I’m just trying to be more patient. It’s a tough sport and you definitely don’t want to play three sets here.
In the end, Jabeur had just enough to set up a second-round meeting with Alison Riske-Amritraj of the United States or Czech Marketa Vondrousova in round two.
Jabeur, who missed last year’s Australian Open with a back injury, won last year’s Madrid and Berlin titles in breakout seasons that put him second in the rankings.
Jabeur reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final at Melbourne Park in 2020 and has now won 11 of her last 12 opening matches at a major, the only loss coming to 52nd-ranked Magda Linette at Roland Garros last year.
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