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Tribune News Network
Doha
Tunisian Ons Jabeur, who did herself and the Arab region proud last October making it to the Krelim Cup final in Moscow, took time off on Monday to chat with kids at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.
“I’m very proud to be representing my country and of all Arab countries in my sport. My advice to you is to trust yourself and pursue your dreams. Never get tired and work hard to reach your dreams,” was the 24-year-old’s big advice to the kids.
When a young boy asked about her favourite moment and best match so far, Jabeur said, “I would say it was a tournament actually in Moscow. I played really good and I felt really good. I felt like I was having fun on the court, really happy with my game, and I kind of discovered a lot of things in me that I could do.
“After that tournament, I reached my best ranking. I was really proud of myself.”
On her favourite surface of play, Jabeur complimented the girl who asked saying, “Good question. I like grass because it fits my drop shots and slice and drive people crazy, so I like it.”
“I practice like around five to six hours daily till probably Saturday. I take some time off on Saturday afternoon and Sunday off.” She then added to coax the kids, “I’m allowed, right!”
Jabeur added she would have been a doctor without tennis. “Earlier, I wanted to be a doctor, but then I know how much work they do. Now, I don’t know, I still want to be doctor, but I still have to put a lot of effort in that.”
One of the kids wanted to know how she spent her free time to which she said, “I watch a lot of movies. Serious, I like football. I play football, either PlayStation or outside, both. But I also listen to music.”
The query about her favourite song made her think. “Hmm. Now? My favorite song? Let me check my phone. It’s actually a French song from Soul King. Do you know Soul King? No, you don’t know probably. Do you speak French? So you listen to it. It’s good.”
Jabeur also said that her favourite place in Doha was the Souq Waqif. “It’s good. It’s like a traditional place, and I love it. I feel like I’m home. I like it so much.”
There were many other questions on what she eats for breakfast to will she be asking her kids to play tennis.
The kids loved the interaction and soon swarmed around her for a picture.
Jabeur will open her campaign against the 2016 Qatar Total Open winner Carla Suarez-Navarro of Spain on Tuesday.
Doha
Tunisian Ons Jabeur, who did herself and the Arab region proud last October making it to the Krelim Cup final in Moscow, took time off on Monday to chat with kids at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.
“I’m very proud to be representing my country and of all Arab countries in my sport. My advice to you is to trust yourself and pursue your dreams. Never get tired and work hard to reach your dreams,” was the 24-year-old’s big advice to the kids.
When a young boy asked about her favourite moment and best match so far, Jabeur said, “I would say it was a tournament actually in Moscow. I played really good and I felt really good. I felt like I was having fun on the court, really happy with my game, and I kind of discovered a lot of things in me that I could do.
“After that tournament, I reached my best ranking. I was really proud of myself.”
On her favourite surface of play, Jabeur complimented the girl who asked saying, “Good question. I like grass because it fits my drop shots and slice and drive people crazy, so I like it.”
“I practice like around five to six hours daily till probably Saturday. I take some time off on Saturday afternoon and Sunday off.” She then added to coax the kids, “I’m allowed, right!”
Jabeur added she would have been a doctor without tennis. “Earlier, I wanted to be a doctor, but then I know how much work they do. Now, I don’t know, I still want to be doctor, but I still have to put a lot of effort in that.”
One of the kids wanted to know how she spent her free time to which she said, “I watch a lot of movies. Serious, I like football. I play football, either PlayStation or outside, both. But I also listen to music.”
The query about her favourite song made her think. “Hmm. Now? My favorite song? Let me check my phone. It’s actually a French song from Soul King. Do you know Soul King? No, you don’t know probably. Do you speak French? So you listen to it. It’s good.”
Jabeur also said that her favourite place in Doha was the Souq Waqif. “It’s good. It’s like a traditional place, and I love it. I feel like I’m home. I like it so much.”
There were many other questions on what she eats for breakfast to will she be asking her kids to play tennis.
The kids loved the interaction and soon swarmed around her for a picture.
Jabeur will open her campaign against the 2016 Qatar Total Open winner Carla Suarez-Navarro of Spain on Tuesday.
