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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur has been one of the most consistent tennis players on the WTA tour for the past few years. Yesterday, she won her first WTA 1000 title at the Madrid Open after beating the American tennis player Jessica Pegula. 

Interestingly, she credited her psychologist, Melanie Maillard, for her meteoric rise. 

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Ons Jabeur thanks her psychologist for her success at the Madrid Open

World no.10, Ons Jabeur and her French psychologist, Melanie Maillard have been working together since 2017. However, for the most part, they have been communicating through the virtual medium. Only twice have they worked closely together, and as a highlight of their collab, Ons reached Wimbledon’s quarter-final for the very first time in 2021. 

At the Madrid Open 2022, Maillard was part of her team, which helped her to win the title.

“So everything goes to Melanie, of course, We discussed that from last year already that I need her with me for more tournaments obviously, because whether you like it or not, it’s much easier than to speak to her virtually. I think to be here and she’s here and I see her that she’s in my box, it helps me a lot. Also, at the same time, all the hard work we did before,” the Tunisian player said about her psychologist after winning the Madrid Open. 

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“Definitely she’s coming to more tournaments. She’s my lucky charm right now. If I win this tournament, literally, I’m taking her to Rome with me. I don’t care about her family, no, she’s coming with me,” Jabeur further added. 

Notably, Maillard has also worked with other top French tennis players, like Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. 

Jabeur became the first Arab woman to win the WTA 1000 title

After beating Jessica Pegula in the Madrid Open final by 7-5,0-6,6-2, Jabeur became the very first Arab/African woman to win a WTA 1000 title. This is a great feat by the world no.10, who incidentally will return to her career-high ranking i.e. 7 on Monday. 

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Undoubtedly, she is one of the best players on the tour after Iga Swiatek (and just a handful of others) and will be one of the favorites to win the Italian Open as well.

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Watch This Story: Iga Swiatek’s victorious moments on the WTA tour

Can Jabeur win back-to-back titles in Rome? Let us know in the comments.