Tunisia’s Jabeur Aiming for No.1

Tennis - Adelaide International - Memorial Drive Tennis Club, Adelaide, Australia - January 7, 2023 Tunisia's Ons Jabeur in action during her semi final match against Czech Republic's Linda Noskova REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Tennis - Adelaide International - Memorial Drive Tennis Club, Adelaide, Australia - January 7, 2023 Tunisia's Ons Jabeur in action during her semi final match against Czech Republic's Linda Noskova REUTERS/Loren Elliott
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Tunisia’s Jabeur Aiming for No.1

Tennis - Adelaide International - Memorial Drive Tennis Club, Adelaide, Australia - January 7, 2023 Tunisia's Ons Jabeur in action during her semi final match against Czech Republic's Linda Noskova REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Tennis - Adelaide International - Memorial Drive Tennis Club, Adelaide, Australia - January 7, 2023 Tunisia's Ons Jabeur in action during her semi final match against Czech Republic's Linda Noskova REUTERS/Loren Elliott

Ons Jabeur said Saturday she is aiming to become world number one in 2023 and "not lose any more finals" after a breakthrough season when she fell just short of a maiden major crown.

The world number two is on the cusp of Grand Slam glory, having been runner-up at Wimbledon and the US Open last year.

"I will try to use that experience from last year because it was kind of tough," the Tunisian said ahead of the Australian Open, the first major of the year, which begins at Melbourne Park on Monday.

"My goal is to not lose any more finals, but just use that to be ready for the next one,” AFP quoted her as saying.

The 28-year-old became the first Arab and African woman to reach a Slam final last year and will face Slovenia's world number 88 Tamara Zidansek in the first round on Tuesday.

Jabeur said she would no longer be satisfied with matching her best previous Australian Open performance.

"I may not be as happy as I was in 2020 reaching the quarter-final," she said.

"The goal as second (ranked) in the world is to be in the second week, to make finals."

She said she was focused on dislodging Poland's Iga Swiatek from the top of the rankings and was not afraid to set lofty goals for herself.

"I like this kind of pressure," she said. "I'm going to put more pressure on myself because I feel like sometimes you just need that to be one of the top players."

Late bloomer Jabeur was 26 when she lifted her maiden WTA title in 2021 at Birmingham, adding Madrid and Berlin trophies last year. She is keen to make up for lost time.

"I want to be number one in the world, not just the number but also the level and the discipline around it. I want to win more titles and get that Grand Slam title, for sure," she said.

"I know a lot of players are hungry to do more. It's going to be very interesting this two weeks."

Jabeur was stunned by rising Czech teenager Linda Noskova in the semi-finals at Adelaide earlier this month, where she needed treatment on a back injury during the first set.

But she allayed any fitness worries, especially after having to miss last year's Australian Open with a similar back problem.

"It's actually much, much better," she said. "I just needed a couple of days to be ready."



Defeated Villa Eager to Go Again in Champions League 

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)
Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)
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Defeated Villa Eager to Go Again in Champions League 

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)
Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP)

Narrowly defeated by Paris St Germain at the Champions League quarter-final stage, Aston Villa are now focused on getting straight back next year into Europe's top club competition.

"I am very proud of everything we did in the Champions League," Villa boss Unai Emery said as the dust settled from a pulsating clash with PSG whom they beat 3-2 in Tuesday's second leg but lost 3-1 to in the first game for an overall 5-4 defeat.

Villa are seventh in the Premier League but only a point off fifth which would secure them a Champions League berth again.

"It is now most important to get Europe again. The most important competition is the Champions League. The challenge we have for the last six matches (of the Premier League) is to try and get Europe and the Champions League," Emery said.

His pride at Villa's strong showing, after a four-decade absence from Europe's elite, was tinged with frustration at just failing to pull off a remarkable comeback as they came so close to scoring a fourth goal at Villa Park that would have levelled the tie on aggregate.

"We were close," he said, adding that he had to push his team on to achieve ever more. "Still a little bit more to do better, to try to get it."

Aston Villa captain John McGinn, who scored on Tuesday, echoed the sentiment.

"Obvious disappointment but I am proud of my teammates, proud of the club. We have come a long way. We were so, so close tonight. We just fell a little bit short," he said.

"We had chances to take the game to extra time but we've got to be proud about the way we came back against one of the best teams in the world, to fight to the end. We want more. We want to be back here next season and we will try our best to do that."

McGinn said the players gave their all against a superb opponent. "We never gave up. It was chaos, but we gave absolutely everything and I think every Aston Villa supporter will leave with a huge sense of pride," he said.

"I've never played against Real Madrid or Barcelona, but in my career they (PSG) are the best team I have faced. I'm getting old and I certainly wouldn't like to play against them every week."