Ons Jabeur jokes she played with her sister’s backhand after hard-fought win over Tamara Zidansek at Australian Open

Speaking to Eurosport’s Barbara Schett after the match, Jabeur said: “It’s tough when you’re not playing your best tennis and it’s tough when you don’t find some tools, especially my backhand, I’m not very happy with it today. Apparently, it was the backhand of my sister!

“But I told myself to accept what I have today and just go with it.”

Jabeur did not play the 2022 Australian Open due to injury.

Asked whether her first-round experience this year was better than what she was doing 12 months ago, Jabeur said: “Sometimes the couch is better than suffering like I did today!

“Mostly, [I am] very happy, I tried to take this opportunity and tried to play better and better, and sometimes it’s really frustrating because doing the practice, you know you’re doing much better than this and then you come on the court and it’s completely different. I’m very happy I could battle today and with such a game, can win.”

Jabeur is looking to build on a breakout season that saw her reach two Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.

In five previous appearances at the Australian Open she has lost in the first round three times, reached the third once, and made the quarter-finals in 2020.

Former British No. 1 Tim Henman said she showed her “class” to come through against Zidansek.

“She’s talking about that frustration but then had to channel it, there was no point in getting too down, she had to fight her way out of it,” he said on Eurosport.

“In those important moments at the end of the first-set tie-break and the important moments of the third set, she showed her class, she showed why she’s the No. 2 seed, the second best player in the world, and that fighting spirit is so important because we know you’re not going to play your best every time, but you need to find a way to get through.”

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander added: “She got frustrated with her forehand but focuses on the next one.

“She said it: in practice it feels really good, but matches are completely different. As a tennis player you go out and practice, but that doesn’t mean anything until you’re on the court and you feel your backhand working. That’s why she’s No. 2, she’s able to adjust immediately.”

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