Tunisian Ons Jabeur, 5th player in the world and finalist of the US Open last year, qualified for the 2nd round of the tournament on Tuesday, but she suffered and had to seek treatment before beating Colombian Camila Osorio ( N.68), 7-5, 7-6 (7/4). Still in search of a first Grand Slam title, after her three defeats in the final of the Wimbledon tournaments (2022, 2023) and in New York last year, the Tunisian asked for a medical break when she was trailing 5 -4 in the first set, after a series of four lost games in a row.
Jabeur appeared to have a cold on Friday at a press conference and joked about “American air conditioning killing (her)”. Coughing and visibly tired, she nevertheless resumed her place on the court and chained three games to win the first set 7-5. She then briefly returned to her locker room. In the second set, Jabeur took the lead and could have ended the match but Osorio, very combative, saved two match points and pushed his opponent to the tie-break. Jabeur, who turned 29 on Monday, won 7-4 in the tiebreak after 2:16 minutes.
“It was not an easy game. She (Osorio) played unbelievably and I don’t feel in my best shape today,” said the Tunisian at the microphone on the court after this grueling victory. She will face in the second round the 18-year-old Czech Linda Noskova (N.41), who beat in the first round the American Madison Brengle, 103rd player in the world (6-2, 6-1).