Arab tennis hero Ons Jabeur plans to bounce back in 2025

Arab tennis hero Ons Jabeur plans to bounce back in 2025
Last year was not one that Tunisian tennis superstar Ons Jabeur will remember with great fondness. (AFP)
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Updated 12 January 2025
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Arab tennis hero Ons Jabeur plans to bounce back in 2025

Arab tennis hero Ons Jabeur plans to bounce back in 2025
  • After a year beset by injuries, the Tunisian star tells Arab News she is confident of hitting the heights again

DUBAI: Last year was not one that Tunisian tennis superstar Ons Jabeur will remember with great fondness.

Having enthralled fans with her unique brand of tennis in the two previous years, reaching two Wimbledon finals and hitting the world No.2 ranking, 2024 was beset by injuries and disruptions.

As Jabeur prepares to launch her Australian Open campaign against Anhelina Kalinina of the Ukraine, she is determined to get back to the form that her army of supporters had come to expect of her.

“I’m feeling much better, happy to be back,” she told Arab News. “I feel like I’m playing good, I’m getting back into the game. I feel very motivated and definitely very positive. I can continue playing even better and the good news is there are a lot of great things to improve.”

Since landing in Australia at the start of the year, Jabeur has taken part in the Brisbane International, where she reached the quarterfinals, as well as the Adelaide International. Improving her form, and not her current WTA world ranking of 39, is the priority.

“I feel like ranking maybe would be a bit irrelevant in this case because if I focus a lot on it, I might kind of not see the level that I was in (before). I was in the top 10 for a good time and I think I need to always remember that I have that level to be one of the great players in the world.

“I always say the most important thing is that I should have the level and the ranking will follow up no matter how much time it will take.

“It is very important for me to get back to my game, and definitely improve a lot of points in my game. That would help me be a better player, especially, playing against these unbelievable players, they’re improving all the time and tennis is improving all the time. And I think it is really important for me to keep up with that game.”

Despite a tough year, Jabeur is now looking forward to mixing it with the next generation of players, for whom she has plenty of praise.

“It’s very impressive. A lot of things are growing very fast, (there are) a lot of unbelievable players,” she said.  “You can see the level is super close between different players and it’s definitely an honor for me to be part of this generation, they are younger than me, but playing at the same time, it’s great to see that.

“It’s definitely motivating to get back on to the court and try to impose my game, because I know my game is a bit different than any other player and the challenge is kind of exciting.”

The Arab tennis hero is confident that she can return to the form she showed in 2022 and 2023.

“Definitely, yes. I think it’s a matter of time, a matter of motivation, and how mentally I feel about it because I always say if you’re mentally ready, and if in your head you’re ready, you can achieve anything. I think your body will follow and everything will follow.

“Now I think I have more experience than in 2022, which is a bonus I could use. But I’m definitely ready to get back into the game, to fight hard and leave everything on the court.”

Aside from her personal targets on court, Jabeur continues to be an inspiration for young Arab tennis talent, Both female and male.

“Of course, it’s one of my goals,” she said. “One of my dreams is to see our players playing on tour. I think we have the talent, I think we have so many motivated players to play on tour and I can say nothing is impossible.

“Just training from Tunisia, I discovered a lot of things and like I said, I’m happy to share my experience and … one day when I’m 100 percent focused, on maybe giving back more. That’s something I really want to do, and I think our region deserves to have more and more champions at international level.”

Saudi Arabia recently awarded citizenship to 15-year-old French tennis player Maysan Hussein, who is of Tunisian origin, and Jabeur believes such moves can help more players get a platform to realise their potential.

“I know Maysan, I met her and met her father, very nice people. Every player deserves the support, deserves to be there, deserves to not think about how much everything will cost. They just need to focus on their training and doing their best. And what Saudi and other countries are doing is really great and I hope they can help her and they can set a good program for her. I wish her well.”

 


Flick backing Szczesny as Barca’s number one

Flick backing Szczesny as Barca’s number one
Updated 11 sec ago
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Flick backing Szczesny as Barca’s number one

Flick backing Szczesny as Barca’s number one
“My job is to make the decision on this position,” Flick told a news conference
“I always look for the (good of) the team, and this is how we act“

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Tuesday he and his staff have chosen Wojciech Szczesny over Inaki Pena as the team’s first choice goalkeeper.
The Catalan giants brought former Polish international Szczesny out of retirement as an emergency signing in October after Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a severe knee injury.
Pena has been the club’s number one during the first half of the season but Szczesny was chosen in the previous two matches.
“My job is to make the decision on this position... for me Tek (Szczesny) is an experienced player and he has a good personality, but both of them are great goalkeepers,” Flick told a news conference ahead of the Champions League clash with Atalanta on Wednesday.
“I decided, also with my team, my coaching staff, for Tek... both are very good, and in the past Inaki did a good job, but now I decided like that.
“I always look for the (good of) the team, and this is how we act.”
Barcelona already secured qualification directly to the last 16 of the Champions League with a 5-4 win over Benfica last week, in which Szczesny made two big mistakes which led to goals.
However Barcelona have won each of the five matches in which the former Juventus stopper has featured this season.
Barcelona will be without defender Andreas Christensen, who will miss three weeks with a calf injury, the club said in a statement.
The Danish defender had only just recovered from an Achilles tendon issue and has not played since August.
Atalanta, third in Serie A, are hoping to secure a top eight Champions League finish, with the Italian side currently seventh.

‘Amazing’ — captain Firmino praises Al-Ahli goalkeeper Mendy’s assist

‘Amazing’ — captain Firmino praises Al-Ahli goalkeeper Mendy’s assist
Updated 35 min 32 sec ago
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‘Amazing’ — captain Firmino praises Al-Ahli goalkeeper Mendy’s assist

‘Amazing’ — captain Firmino praises Al-Ahli goalkeeper Mendy’s assist
  • Former Chelsea goalkeeper set up Riyad Mahrez with a 75-yard pass in his team’s 5-0 win over Al-Riyadh on Sunday

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli captain Roberto Firmino has praised goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s ‘amazing’ assist for Riyad Mahrez’s goal during his team’s dominant 5-0 victory over Al-Riyadh on Sunday.

Mendy produced a 75-yard pass to help Mahrez score Al-Ahli’s final goal in the 88th minute that was so perfect, it could have been the Algerian winger himself striking the ball.

Falling to his knees after claiming a catch, the former Chelsea goalkeeper spotted a potential attack and sprang up to kick the ball towards the sprinting Mahrez on the right wing.

The former Manchester City star played it inside with his right foot expertly, smashing a first-time shot with his left from 25 yards out that soared into the top of Milan Borgan’s net. It was so good, as many Al-Ahli players ran to congratulate their goalkeeper as they did the scorer.

“It was an amazing pass, congratulations to him,” said Firmino. “For a goalkeeper to (be able to) do that… amazing. Congratulations.”

Firmino himself was on the scoresheet, tapping home the third goal from Franck Kessie’s pass for his ninth strike of the season. The victory also included two goals by Ivan Toney — “It’d have been better if it was a hat-trick,” quipped the Englishman later — and a looping header from Ziyad Al-Johani.

Kessie and Firmino also had goals ruled out by VAR, the former after a foul in the build up by the latter, and Firmino due to an offside call.

The result leaves the Jeddah team, who have won four out of their last five matches, in fifth place in the Roshn Saudi League. They are three points off Al-Nassr in fourth and five behind Al-Qadisiyah in third.

“It was a big three points,” said 33-year-old former Liverpool forward Firmino. “I’m very happy to score again and help the team. We fight for everything, and we’ll do our best to achieve our goals in the future. We just need to keep winning games.

“I love it here, I’m happy. Scoring goals helps the team and that’s my goal every game so we’re getting better day by day.”

Al-Riyadh dropped to eighth in the table after the game, with coach Sabri Lamouchi saying Matthias Jaissle’s team were “excellent.”

“I want to congratulate Al-Ahli for the win,” he said. “Luck was not on our side. I don’t think it mattered if we played with four or five defenders. We might have lost because we did a few changes in the defensive line, but we played against a big team, an organized team, and an excellent team.”


Shami returns as India bowl against England in third T20

Shami returns as India bowl against England in third T20
Updated 34 min 47 sec ago
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Shami returns as India bowl against England in third T20

Shami returns as India bowl against England in third T20
  • Fit-again pace bowler Mohammed Shami returns for the hosts
  • The 34-year-old Shami last played for India in the 50-over World Cup final in November 2023

RAJKOT: India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to field first against England as they look to clinch the series in the third T20 international on Tuesday.
Fit-again pace bowler Mohammed Shami returns for the hosts, who lead the five-match series 2-0, as the only change with Arshdeep Singh rested in Rajkot.
The 34-year-old Shami, who has recovered from a heel injury, last played for India in the 50-over World Cup final in November 2023 and recently returned to action in domestic cricket.
England, led by Jos Buttler, were unchanged from their previous loss on Saturday and look to stay alive in the series.
Jamie Smith will keep wicket in place of Phil Salt, who has a “stiff calf.”

Teams
India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Dhruv Jurel, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy
England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (capt), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith (wk), Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Umpires: KN Ananthapadmanabhan (IND), Rohan Pandit (IND)
TV Umpire: Nitin Menon (IND)
Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)


Man City will embrace Brugge ‘challenge’ in must-win Champions League clash: Guardiola

Man City will embrace Brugge ‘challenge’ in must-win Champions League clash: Guardiola
Updated 40 min 42 sec ago
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Man City will embrace Brugge ‘challenge’ in must-win Champions League clash: Guardiola

Man City will embrace Brugge ‘challenge’ in must-win Champions League clash: Guardiola
  • Guardiola has never failed to reach the Champions League knockout stages in his career as a manager and he said Tuesday he was confident his side would progress
  • “It’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity, a challenge, and we will face it“

MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will embrace the “challenge” of Wednesday’s must-win Champions League clash against Club Brugge and is confident they will make the knockout stages.
The Premier League champions must beat last season’s Belgian league winners at the Etihad to progress to the play-off stage, involving teams ranked from ninth to 24th in the league phase.
The top eight teams automatically qualify for the round of 16, which takes place in March.
City endured a horrific run of just one win in 13 games in all competitions from October to December, which threatened to completely derail their season.
Guardiola’s men appear to have turned a corner in the Premier League, winning four of their past five games to climb back into the top four.
But lingering problems were exposed last week as Paris Saint-Germain battled back from 2-0 down to inflict a damaging 4-2 defeat on the 2023 European champions.
Guardiola has never failed to reach the Champions League knockout stages in his career as a manager and he said Tuesday he was confident his side would progress.
“It’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity, a challenge, and we will face it,” he told his pre-match press conference.
He added: “I expect a tough opponent. When a team is 20 games unbeaten (the run is 21) it is because they are good. There are no secrets about that.
“They beat Aston Villa, (against) Juventus, Milan they played good. Celtic... they did really well. Different variations in the build-up. We have to read well what we have to do.
“But every team — Manchester City included — has weaknesses. You have to find them and punish them.”
Guardiola appeared frustrated when quizzed on the potential consequences of an early exit from the Champions League.
City are presently 25th in the league table after just two wins in their seven games.
“Of course, I’m not naive enough to know how important it is financially for the club to go through in this competition, but sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t,” he said.
“But, of course, we want to try to go through, especially for sporting reasons.”
The 54-year-old Catalan said he had faith the pressure of the situation would bring out the best in his players.
“I know they want it, I know how focused they are, and I don’t have doubts that we will perform what we have to do to go through, but with football, you never know,” he said.
Norway midfielder Oscar Bobb is in contention to feature against Club Brugge for the first time since August but new signings Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov are all ineligible.


4 talking points from momentous Monday in Saudi Pro League

4 talking points from momentous Monday in Saudi Pro League
Updated 53 min 22 sec ago
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4 talking points from momentous Monday in Saudi Pro League

4 talking points from momentous Monday in Saudi Pro League
  • Top 2 lose, Neymar departs Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Qadsiah gain ground

LONDON: It was a momentous Monday on and off the pitch in the Saudi Pro League as we learned that Neymar had left Saudi Arabia just as the title race exploded into life with Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad both losing. It means that at the halfway stage of the season, six points separate the top three and hopes are high of a title race for the ages.

Here are our four talking points from the latest round of action.

Neymar leaving Al-Hilal by mutual consent

It was no surprise that Al-Hilal announced late at night that Neymar, the superstar who signed in August 2023, was leaving by mutual consent. Injuries had meant that he never really arrived, playing just seven games in almost 18 months. The cruciate ligament rupture sustained when in action for Brazil just two months after he signed, was hugely unlucky for the player. Al-Hilal and the league would have loved to see him in action week in, week out.

However, it was not to be, and truth be told, Al-Hilal are not the kind of club to wait and wait. Coach Jorge Jesus said that his team were fine without Brazil’s record goalscorer and so it proved. The Blues went on to win the league last season and are currently leading this time, and while there is a sense of what might have been, the club should be fine again.

Aubamayeng shoots Al-Qadsiah into title race

Al-Hilal suffered a rare defeat on Monday, losing 2-1 to Al-Qadsiah just when they had the chance to move three points clear at top. It was down to the finishing of a certain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The former Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal star showed the kind of finishing that made him feared by defenses around the world. Al-Hilal’s backline were too relaxed and gave the 35-year-old too much time and space and were punished very early and very late in the game as Al-Qadsiah collected a famous win.

The newly promoted team have quietly moved into third place and, at the halfway stage, are just six points behind the top two of Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad. It is still a lot of ground to make up but they are the league’s form team and have now won eight of the last nine. If this run continues, then there is going to be a three-way battle for the title.

Ronaldo’s Monday delight

There could even be a four-way tussle for the title if Cristiano Ronaldo has his way.

Al-Nassr defeated Al-Fateh 3-1 on Sunday so could sit back and enjoy the top two losing. The results mean even the Yellows are not yet out of the running and now are eight points behind their rivals from Riyadh and Jeddah. It is still quite a gap but Ronaldo is in great goalscoring form at the moment, leading the standings above Karim Benzema and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

It is going to take some doing, but if their talisman keeps finding the net and their recent improvement in form continues, then the Yellows can get within touching distance. Stefano Pioli’s men need to find some more consistency, to cut out the defensive mistakes and also beat the top three when the games come. Easier said than done, but a four-way fight would be quite something.

Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad need to bounce back

Usually it is Al-Hilal who are celebrating after scoring a 94th-minute winner but not this time after their 2-1 loss to Al-Qadsiah. There was a rare lack of ruthlessness shown by the champions both in attack and defence. They had the chances to win the game and move three points clear but were wasteful and then gave Aubameyang too much time and space.

Now it is all about how they react. From May 2023 they did not lose a league game until November 2024. Now, just weeks later, there is another defeat. It could be just the wake-up call needed, or the beginning of a few chinks of weakness in that mighty armor. Jorge Jesus and his stars have work to do. 

The same can also be said of Al-Ittihad, who also went behind early at Damac, got back level, had chances to win and then conceded deep into added time to the same striker, Georges-Kevin N’Koudou. Both the top two only had themselves to blame. The next round of games should be quite telling.