World no. 2 Jabeur overcomes slow start to move past Zidansek in Melbourne
WTA
Ons Jabeur had to fight in three sets in her first-round match at the 2023 Australian Open, but she ultimately won the match to reach the second round.
The Tunisian is one of the favorites at the first major of the season, alongside the likes of Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula. In 2022, Jabeur played in two Grand Slam finals, and she will want to extend her success in majors also in Melbourne.
Her first-round opponent was Tamara Zidansek, who surprised Jabeur already in the first game as she broke first in this match. However, the second seed then won four consecutive games to build a comfortable 4-1 lead in the first set.
Yet, that was not enough as Zidansek fought back to make it 4-4. Jabeur then had a set point in the tenth game, but after she couldn't use it, the first set was decided in a tie-break.
Zidansek had three set points after leading 6-4 and later 8-7, but Jabeur ultimately won the tie-break 10-8, using her third set point of the opening set of the match.
In the second set, fans in Melbourne waited until the eighth game before seeing the first break point. It was the Slovenian who had it, and she used it to grab a 5-3 lead.
She then lost the one-break advantage in the following game despite having a set point. However, Zidansek was able to break her opponent's serve one more time to win the second set of the match 6-4 and force a decider.
The third set was a one-woman story. Jabeur lost the first game, but she then never looked back. The Tunisian player lost only five more points in the match to win it 7-6(8), 4-6, 6-1 in two hours and 19 minutes.
Up next, Jabeur will play against the winner of the match between Marketa Vondrousova and Alison Riske.
