"I'm exhausted, but it's part of my job" admits Ons Jabeur
WTA
Ons Jabeur has revealed that a grueling WTA schedule so far this season has caused fatigue, but the world number seven is still determined to succeed in the Italian Open final.
Jabeur has hit top form in the 2022 clay season and heads into the Italian Open final with just two losses on this surface in 19 matches. Moreover, it will be the Tunisian's third final appearance at a clay court competition in 2022 after she reached the Charleston Open final and won the Madrid Open in late April.
Just one more match stands in the way of Jabeur notching a second consecutive WTA 1000 title on the WTA Tour. However, she faces a tough test against current WTA number one and reigning Italian Open champion Iga Swiatek, who is also on a 27-match unbeaten streak.
Ultimately, Jabeur will feel relatively confident after her sensational clay court performances this season. The WTA number seven produced another strong display against Daria Kasatkina in the semi-final, winning in three sets and Jabeur stated that the victory was even sweeter as she was not at full fitness.
"Very happy to back that other final in Madrid. It's never easy to play [Kasatkina]. I know this surface kind of suits her very well because it's slow and she likes it. She was playing really well this week. It was a tough one for me not being 100 per cent there. Pretty glad that I got the win and finals again."
Having faced a testing four-week schedule for the clay part of the WTA season, including travelling from Charleston to Germany, Spain then to Italy, Jabeur admitted that the tiredness has caught up with her.
However, the 26-year-old also said that she was determined to keep going and get over the line in the upcoming Italian Open final against Swiatek.
"I knew that physically I could handle anything. Believing that I could play even four weeks in a row, I can do it. I am exhausted, yes, but it's part of my job. It's going to help me push more tomorrow. There is only one match left. I gave it all from the first round, now I should really continue giving my best."
"It means a lot to me, especially mentally, that I could come back from a match point and prove that I did that today. Hopefully I can keep being stronger mentally, because I know [the final] tomorrow is all about mental."
