Ons Jabeur would not have dreamed of the surprising double assignment with tennis superstar Serena Williams on her comeback.
“I’m still over the moon about the news,” said the world number four from Tunisia at the lawn tournament in Berlin. “I’m really happy she chose me. Hopefully we make a good team.”
The 23-time Grand Slam tournament winner Williams announced on Tuesday that she would be returning to the WTA Tour in singles at the lawn classic in Wimbledon (June 27 to July 10) after a year’s break. Before that, the longtime world number one will play doubles with Jabeur at next week’s WTA tournament in Eastbourne to warm up for Wimbledon.
“She’s such a legend, I’ve always loved Serena, how she plays, how she’s off the field,” said Jabeur, 27. “I can’t wait to play alongside them. I try not to make mistakes.” She herself is top seeded at the tournament in Berlin in preparation for Wimbledon and reached the round of 16 on Tuesday.
With another Grand Slam title, Serena Williams would equal Australia’s Margaret Court’s record. Williams has won seven times at Wimbledon.