If the word “drop shot” had a dictionary definition, Ons Jabeur’s name might just be next to it. The Tunisian star is known for her creativity, finesse, and most importantly, her ability to execute drop shots with perfection. On the men’s tour, Carlos Alcaraz has become the face of the modern drop shot, using it frequently and often to devastating effect. So, who influenced who? The Tunisian tennis player has an answer!

Jabeur recently appeared on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast, where she sat down with former American tennis players John Isner, Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, and others for a candid conversation on February 1. During the chat, Sam Querrey brought up her signature shot and asked whether Carlos Alcaraz should be giving her credit for it. With her signature wit, the former World No.2 responded, “Well, he has a really good drop shot because he plays tactically with it. He doesn’t know when he’s going to do it. But I like to say he got inspired by me or something.”

The others on the podcast seemed to agree with her playful claim. But Jabeur wasn’t done yet. She took the joke a step further, saying Alcaraz could properly acknowledge her influence by giving her, “Half of his Grand Slams probably.”

While Alcaraz has already racked up four Grand Slam titles at just 21 years old, the former Wimbledon finalist is still chasing her first. She has reached three Grand Slam finals but hasn’t managed to cross the finish line.

So the possibility of closing out her career without a Grand Slam is becoming a grim reality for the 30-year-old player. And therefore, she has formulated a Plan B. What is it?

Ons Jabeur reveals ‘Plan B’ if she never wins a Grand Slam title

Jabeur’s first chance came at Wimbledon 2022, where she was the third seed and faced 17th-seeded Elena Rybakina. After winning the first set, Jabeur saw the match slip away, eventually losing 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Just two months later, she found herself in another Grand Slam final, this time at the US Open. But she ran into Iga Swiatek, who proved too strong, defeating her 6-2, 7-6(5). Her third shot at glory came in 2023 at Wimbledon. But once again, she fell short, this time against unseeded Czech player Marketa Vondrousova, losing 6-4, 6-4.

For any player, coming that close three times without a title would be heartbreaking. The Tunisian tennis player knows the reality she could face, and she spoke about it honestly on the podcast.

She said, “It probably will take me some time to, you know, accept that. But I would definitely be grateful for every moment that I have, because if I ask any player right now, would they take three Grand Slam finals? Everybody would say yes.” But just in case she never wins one, Jabeur has a backup plan. With a laugh, she added, “And for me, I would probably have a girl and raise her, and she will win the Grand Slam for me. That’s plan B.”

Jabeur isn’t dwelling on the past. She has already traveled to the Middle East for the Abu Dhabi Open, where she is set to take on Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko in the first round tomorrow.

For now, the hunt for a Grand Slam continues. Just look at Madison Keys, who became a Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open this year at 29 years of age. Do you think Ons Jabeur can also achieve such a result?