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HomeSportsShaky Jabeur survives first-round check at Australian Open

Shaky Jabeur survives first-round check at Australian Open

Melbourne: 2nd seed Ons Jabeur’s quest for a maiden Grand Slam name on the Australian Open started with a shaky 7-6 (10/8), 4-6, 6-1 victory over Tamara Zidansek suffering from unforced mistakes on Tuesday.

The Tunisian used to be runner-up at each Wimbledon and the USA Open final 12 months however needed to grind previous the Slovenian global quantity 98 underneath the roof on Rod Laver Area in a 2hr 17min combat.

Jabeur has set herself the dual goals in 2023 of changing into the primary Arab and African girl to win one of the vital 4 tennis majors and toppling Iga Swiatek from the number 1 score.

However the 28-year-old, who had strapping on her left knee, suffered early nerves as she took to Melbourne Park’s centre courtroom for the night time consultation on day two.

Jabeur dropped her opening provider sport however broke again immediately.

Additional breaks had been exchanged sooner than the robust Jabeur in the end outlasted the Slovenian 10-8 in an attritional tiebreak on the finish of a primary set that lasted 68 mins.

Serving at 3-4 in the second one, Jabeur used to be damaged for a 3rd time and Zidansek took benefit to degree the fit.

However after the prolonged period between units, Jabeur wiped clean up her play, made fewer mistakes and sped away to victory.

“I simply attempted to practice what my trainer advised me to do,” she mentioned of her turnaround within the 3rd set.

“I wasn’t actually doing that and he’s going to kill me after the fit,” she joked.

Jabeur dedicated 49 unforced mistakes all the way through her stuttering opening fit, however simplest six got here in her much-improved 3rd set.

“I simply attempted to be extra affected person. It’s a difficult recreation and also you for sure don’t wish to play 3 units right here.”

After all Jabeur did simply sufficient to arrange a second-round assembly with both Alison Riske-Amritraj of the USA or Czech Marketa Vondrousova in around two.

Jabeur, who ignored final 12 months’s Australian Open with a again harm, received Madrid and Berlin trophies final 12 months in a breakout season which propelled her to moment within the ratings.

Jabeur reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final at Melbourne Park in 2020 and has now received 11 of her final 12 opening-round suits at majors, the one loss coming to 52nd-ranked Magda Linette at Roland Garros final 12 months.

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