Tunisia’s Jabeur Targets Grand Slam Success after Charleston Crown

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia poses with the trophy after defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the Finals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 09, 2023 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ons Jabeur of Tunisia poses with the trophy after defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the Finals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 09, 2023 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Tunisia’s Jabeur Targets Grand Slam Success after Charleston Crown

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia poses with the trophy after defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the Finals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 09, 2023 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ons Jabeur of Tunisia poses with the trophy after defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the Finals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 09, 2023 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)

Ons Jabeur has set her sights on capturing a first Grand Slam title this year after the world number four beat Belinda Bencic 7-6(6) 6-4 at the Charleston Open on Sunday to win her first trophy of the season.

Jabeur came up short in two major finals in 2022, losing to Elena Rybakina at Wimbledon and Iga Swiatek at the US Open, but the Tunisian is rediscovering her best form again this year after minor knee surgery in February.

Victory against holder Bencic was Jabeur's 38th on clay since the start of the 2020 season - the most by any women's player in that period - and makes the 28-year-old a strong contender for the French Open starting next month.

"I'm glad that I'm finding my rhythm and I hope my body will allow me to play," Jabeur told Tennis Channel, looking ahead to the European claycourt swing.

"I'm excited to go to Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome. Clay is really amazing and I love it. I'm working on a lot of things and it's going my way, so for me: step by step, and I'm going for the Grand Slam this year."

Jabeur, who missed tournaments in Doha and Dubai earlier this year and made early exits in Indian Wells and Miami, said self-belief had helped her rise to the challenge of facing Olympic champion Bencic.

"If you want to do something, believe in it and only you can really manifest it," Jabeur added. "I was doing that, imagining myself holding the trophy.

"I was imagining myself in the photoshoot after, putting the image that I won that title already, and it happened.

"I'll manifest the big trophy sets, the Wimbledon one and other Grand Slams that I want to win."



Jannik Sinner Beats Ben Shelton to Return to the Australian Open Final

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his semi final match against Ben Shelton of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his semi final match against Ben Shelton of the US. (Reuters)
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Jannik Sinner Beats Ben Shelton to Return to the Australian Open Final

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his semi final match against Ben Shelton of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his semi final match against Ben Shelton of the US. (Reuters)

Defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame some third-set cramping and beat Ben Shelton 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2 on Friday to return to the Australian Open final as he seeks a third Grand Slam title.

The No. 1-ranked Sinner, a 23-year-old from Italy, fell behind in the opening set and twice was a point from losing it when Shelton served at 6-5. But Sinner broke there, then dominated the ensuing tiebreaker, and broke again to begin the second set.

“It was a very tough first set, but a very crucial one,” said Sinner, who ran his winning streak to 20 matches dating to late last season.

He said the matchup against the 21st-seeded Shelton, an American appearing in his second major semifinal and first at Melbourne Park, was filled with “a lot of tension.”

“I'm very happy with how I handled the situation today,” Sinner said.

The only trouble he ran into in the last two sets of the 2 1/2-hour contest in Rod Laver Arena was when he clutched at his left hamstring, and then his right thigh, in the third. He was treated by a trainer, who massaged both of Sinner's legs during changeovers.

Sinner is now the youngest man since Jim Courier in 1992-93 to reach consecutive finals at the Australian Open. It was Courier who conducted the post-match interview with Sinner on Friday.

Sinner won his first major title at Melbourne Park a year ago, then grabbed No. 2 at the US Open in September, shortly after being exonerated in a doping case that is still under appeal. There is a hearing scheduled for April.

On Sunday, Sinner will try to add to his trophy haul when he faces No. 2 Alexander Zverev for the championship.

Zverev advanced to his third major final — he is 0-2, with both losses in five sets — when Novak Djokovic quit after one set of their semifinal Friday because of a leg injury.

“Everything can happen. He's an incredible player,” Sinner said about Zverev. “He's looking for his first major. There's going to be, again, a lot of tension.”