Reigning Madrid Open champion, Ons Jabeur, is excited to start her title defence for 2023 but admitted she isn't getting carried away with returning to the competition just yet.
Jabeur defeated the likes of Simona Halep and Ekaterina Alexandrova en route to the 2022 Madrid Open final. The Tunisian player then beat Jessica Pegula in straight sets during the final to claim her first-ever WTA 1000 title.
The victory sparked a sensational run of form for Jabeur in 2022 as she went on to reach the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. In a conversation with the official Madrid Open website, Jabeur explained that she is nervous about her title defence this year, but equally feels privileged to enter the tournament as the current champion.
"Oh, wow I feel stressed already, but my plan is to take it one match at a time. It’s such an honour for me to start as a defending champion. I can’t wait to be there and play more tennis."
In addition, Jabeur said that being humble and thinking of her fans also helps her in preparation for a big competition.
"That’s all that matters to me. Being arrogant won’t get me anywhere. People come to watch me, support me. The least I can do is smile for them. It’s important to remember that we’re all human and the same. Be kind always."
After the Australian Open in January, Jabeur suffered a minor setback when she withdrew from tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Doha to undergo surgery. She returned to action at Indian Wells and the Miami Open before reaching the Charleston Open final and losing against Belinda Bencic.
Despite an inconsistent first stage of 2023, the 28-year-old feels confident in her ability to get ready for the challenges of clay surfaces in Madrid.
"I usually adapt to the conditions of the tournament. At the beginning it can be tricky. I think that was the most difficult part."
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