![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T5BUFP4SPR7WVEL6SPYGNMB4LQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=fae4aa0d9cb498c33980d84637980637e45af86b125ca4681bf327a3717fd3d3&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur plays a shot to Yulia Starodubtseva. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QPNIXHAXTN6PBZGHJ2XC423GY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6116ca6a20b72f5b07ec3300e7dd0e6f6fae912e12c5e992d518f84e17428c64&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur celebrates after her victory against Yuliia Starodubtseva in the first round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 15, 2024. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KZRHDXBRJ4XTISOYOROFYXNAQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=30fa82209d3f5e607001e3b0c1225560f5d2d2f97912d3ae15b65843e5a30f72&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur signs autographs for fans after her victory in the Australian Open first round. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TDTETOSX7LOQNESX6EDMVWL5WI.jpg?smart=true&auth=17eec20913f7def8097b48102a237b34e139c2759b14b05f024053e1e0cc4cdd&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur signs autographs inside Margaret Court Arena. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z2INHVRVHFGEWJ73DE3VXQJJZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=19ff83e82344fb51f30f77f58dc04eaccfa36355bd18595356b4a13490fdbccd&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur shakes hands with Yuliia Starodubtseva at the net following their match. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K3IBFKC633B6XW6S4VEELCUPZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b104c6595207533e07c0501ae039cfd9a00d3df672e6f69a85c80375091a9eb&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur hits a forehand to Yuliia Starodubtseva during their match on day two of the Australian Open. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LWGDA2XHKEKA5XPUDIOLYKWBI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc9fe3c99963f717042cd8b7393f5f16b56f32cca65a6d0e4fd1e45f8515bf1c&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur celebrates winning a point against Yuliia Starodubtseva. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BRMY254L2KPYRWS3EM7U7Y6SBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=3ce0fd7405652cadf4bfda8594c6abff758033036b329edd70f196899fcec8f3&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur hits a backhand to Yuliia Starodubtseva during their match at the Australian Open. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K6ERAON3M4BVK7SFXNTJQGH5OU.jpg?smart=true&auth=72c529578feabd4511704bb382ee702db130679fd07336031ff0ddfc2f75df0c&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur in action during her first-round match against Yulia Starodubtseva. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O265ALACPO74HZHNA7U6GFPO7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=1018b33a71e079a23b7724b4c535ddb7020baa81b13666dcf6d46d4a59f19247&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur stretches for the ball during her match against Yuliia Starodubtseva. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T5BUFP4SPR7WVEL6SPYGNMB4LQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=fae4aa0d9cb498c33980d84637980637e45af86b125ca4681bf327a3717fd3d3&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur plays a shot to Yulia Starodubtseva. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QPNIXHAXTN6PBZGHJ2XC423GY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6116ca6a20b72f5b07ec3300e7dd0e6f6fae912e12c5e992d518f84e17428c64&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur celebrates after her victory against Yuliia Starodubtseva in the first round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 15, 2024. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KZRHDXBRJ4XTISOYOROFYXNAQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=30fa82209d3f5e607001e3b0c1225560f5d2d2f97912d3ae15b65843e5a30f72&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur signs autographs for fans after her victory in the Australian Open first round. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TDTETOSX7LOQNESX6EDMVWL5WI.jpg?smart=true&auth=17eec20913f7def8097b48102a237b34e139c2759b14b05f024053e1e0cc4cdd&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur signs autographs inside Margaret Court Arena. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z2INHVRVHFGEWJ73DE3VXQJJZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=19ff83e82344fb51f30f77f58dc04eaccfa36355bd18595356b4a13490fdbccd&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur shakes hands with Yuliia Starodubtseva at the net following their match. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K3IBFKC633B6XW6S4VEELCUPZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b104c6595207533e07c0501ae039cfd9a00d3df672e6f69a85c80375091a9eb&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur hits a forehand to Yuliia Starodubtseva during their match on day two of the Australian Open. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LWGDA2XHKEKA5XPUDIOLYKWBI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc9fe3c99963f717042cd8b7393f5f16b56f32cca65a6d0e4fd1e45f8515bf1c&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur celebrates winning a point against Yuliia Starodubtseva. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BRMY254L2KPYRWS3EM7U7Y6SBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=3ce0fd7405652cadf4bfda8594c6abff758033036b329edd70f196899fcec8f3&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur hits a backhand to Yuliia Starodubtseva during their match at the Australian Open. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K6ERAON3M4BVK7SFXNTJQGH5OU.jpg?smart=true&auth=72c529578feabd4511704bb382ee702db130679fd07336031ff0ddfc2f75df0c&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur in action during her first-round match against Yulia Starodubtseva. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O265ALACPO74HZHNA7U6GFPO7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=1018b33a71e079a23b7724b4c535ddb7020baa81b13666dcf6d46d4a59f19247&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur stretches for the ball during her match against Yuliia Starodubtseva. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T5BUFP4SPR7WVEL6SPYGNMB4LQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=fae4aa0d9cb498c33980d84637980637e45af86b125ca4681bf327a3717fd3d3&width=400&height=225)
Ons Jabeur plays a shot to Yulia Starodubtseva. Reuters
Ons Jabeur: 'I love playing in Abu Dhabi - it feels like being back home'
Tunisian world No 6 talks to The National ahead of her debut appearance at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
Jon Turner
06 February, 2024
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic