Ons Jabeur easily moves to the Australian Open second round

Ons Jabeur swiftly advanced to the second round of the Australian Open with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva on . Starodubtseva, ranked No. 150 in the world, displayed no signs of nerves in her first match against a top 10 player, opening with a break of serve. However, Jabeur showcased her full array of shots, securing three breaks to claim the first set. An early break in the second set put the world No. 6 in complete control.

Despite her relative inexperience and being only six months removed from university without a ranking a year ago, Starodubtseva did not falter. She attempted to go shot-for-shot with her more seasoned opponent. Jabeur, playing her first match of the year, drew on her wealth of experience to excel in crucial moments, comfortably closing out the second set.

Tennis Result

Reflecting on her victory on court, Jabeur expressed the special significance of returning to the Australian Open. She mentioned her decision to rest before the tournament and appreciated the support from the crowd. Jabeur acknowledged the stress of returning to the event, especially after a challenging previous year, but found comfort in the enthusiastic crowd, including fans who had been following her since qualifying in 2016.

Jabeur expressed gratitude to her long-time supporters and looked forward to a better match in the next round. Her next opponent will be either Mirra Andreeva or Bernarda Pera.