Ons Jabeur, Tunisia’s Minister of Happiness, has found solace in Stuttgart, Germany, where she is competing in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The world No. 9 has been struggling with a knee injury and a five-match losing streak, but she broke the slump with a hard-fought victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova in her opening match.
Jabeur’s love for football was evident as she visited the home stadium of VfB Stuttgart, MHPArena, which is adjacent to the Porsche Arena. She witnessed Stuttgart’s 3-0 victory over Frankfurt and later received a tour of the grounds from goalkeeper Fabi Bredlow.
Despite being a Real Madrid fan, Jabeur displayed her football skills with Bredlow, showcasing her keepy-uppy abilities. The pair exchanged well wishes for their upcoming matches, with Stuttgart facing Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga and Jabeur continuing her campaign in the WTA 500 event.
Jabeur’s victory over Alexandrova was a testament to her resilience and determination. After losing the first set, she rallied back to win the next two, including a tiebreaker in the third set. She credited her Tunisian fans for their unwavering support, which has been a constant source of motivation for her.
“Tennis is such a tough sport and it’s been such a tough period for me, so even confidence-wise I’m trying to build it up,” Jabeur said. “Very grateful to be Tunisian, because wherever I go I find them!”
Jabeur will face Jasmine Paolini in the second round, who advanced with a dominant victory over Sara Errani. The Tunisian star will be looking to continue her momentum and build on her positive experience in Stuttgart.
