Melbourne (AFP)

Ons beur wrote a new page for Tunisian tennis when it reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open where it was eliminated on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Tunisian can now "believe even more in (her) dreams".

The first player in the Arab world to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament, Jabeur also repeated her pride in being Tunisian and said that she had received a call for encouragement from President Kais Saied.

QUESTION: How did you feel on the court for your first Grand Slam quarterfinal?

ANSWER: "I was a little tired. She (Sofia Kenin who beat her 6-4, 6-4, editor's note) is really an incredible player. I had to run on each ball, she did not give a single not for free. She didn't make a lot of mistakes either. But I guess that's what a Grand Slam quarter final looks like. I really wish I could have played better. But I'm happy with my tournament . I still have a lot of work to do, but I hope to come back and do even better next time. "

Q: What will you mainly remember from your trip to Melbourne?

A: "I think I have proven that I was able to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, even if I have a lot of things to improve, probably, in terms of physical and mental. But I am I'm glad I pushed a lot of lines. I proved to myself that I could do a lot of good things. I'm glad I played like that. Sometimes I'm hard on myself but I know I can do even better by especially when it gets tough and stressful. I think with more experience, I can handle the pressure better. "

Q: Now that you have reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, have you raised your goals?

A: "To be honest, even before reaching the quarterbacks I wanted to win a Grand Slam tournament. So now I think I'm even closer. I think I can believe more in my dreams. In my head , I’ve set very high goals. So I’m ready, I’m going to go all out. It’s maybe a good start to the season to really build my confidence and prepare for victories in big tournaments. "

Q: Do you know what were the reactions in Tunisia to your career in Melbourne?

A: "Yes, I have a lot of returns from Tunisia. My phone keeps ringing. I even spoke to the president of Tunisia. He called me. He wished me luck. was really nice of him. I spoke to a lot of politicians from Tunisia who called me too. Everyone is crazy. A lot of people call me to wish me luck. There, I get lots of messages people who tell me they’re proud. I don’t want to be in politics, I’m not good at that. All I want Tunisia to do is get better and be a safer place. I love being Tunisian. I'm proud to be Tunisian. "

Comments gathered at a press conference

© 2020 AFP