Ons Jabeur makes feelings clear on Emma Raducanu after Brit suffers defeat at Abu Dhabi Open

Ons Jabeur makes feelings clear on Emma Raducanu after Brit suffers defeat at Abu Dhabi Open

WATCH NOW: Emma Raducanu speaks after winning in the first round of the Australian Open

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 07/02/2024

- 19:01

Raducanu suffered a straight-sets defeat in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday

Ons Jabeur has wished Emma Raducanu success upon her return from injury but not when she plays against her.

Jabeur beat the Brit in straight sets at the Abu Dhabi Open on Wednesday but admitted afterwards that she was a 'big fan'.


Raducanu was playing in her third tournament since undergoing surgery on both wrists and her ankle last year.

She stormed through her first-round match against Czech star Marie Bouzkova on Monday, dropping just five games in a straight-sets win.

Ons Jabeur and Emma Raducanu

Ons Jabeur has labelled Emma Raducanu 'amazing' after beating her at the Abu Dhabi Open

Getty

However, world No 6 Jabeur proved too strong a test for the 21-year-old former US Open winner.

Jabeur broke twice in the first set and was serving for a 6-2 win before Raducanu performed a break of her own.

The Brit eventually succumbed 6-4 and dropped a game on her serve early in the second set.

Jabeur took advantage and won six games in a row to see out a 6-4, 6-1 victory and qualify for the quarter-final stage.

She will play Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia in the next round on Friday, while Raducanu will look to take the positives from a promising week.

Speaking on court after her win, Jabeur made her feelings clear on Raducanu by calling her an 'amazing' player.

She joked that she wants to see Raducanu win again but not when she plays against her.

Jabeur said: "Well she didn't make it easy for me. Obviously Emma is such an amazing player, I really wish her all the best and I know she can play much better so I’m a big fan of her.

"I’m looking forward to seeing her win more matches. Not against me but against other players."

Raducanu has battled injury and illness in the last couple of years to stunt her progress.

But Jabeur is confident she will be able to fulfil her potential on the court.

She added: "I mean, Emma had an amazing experience at the US Open and everybody I think followed her and she has an amazing career.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu was beaten by Ons Jabeur at the Abu Dhabi Open

Getty

"Everybody has a different story but we struggle a lot, we go through a lot of things but we try to make it here.

"I’m so proud to be part of the WTA, a lot of amazing women play on the tour."

Jabeur is yet to win a Grand Slam, losing in the final of Wimbledon twice and the US Open once.

But she is happy with how she is playing and is 'proud' of what she has achieved so far.

Ons Jabeur

Ons Jabeur beat Emma Raducanu in straight sets in Abu Dhabi

Getty

She said: "I try to show the best of me on and off the court. I come from a very small country that has a lot of potential.

"I'm very proud to be a Tunisian and an Arab woman to show nothing is impossible."

You may like