Teenage sensation and former Roland Garros junior champion Ons Jabeur said she would love to play mixed doubles with fellow Tunisian Malek Jaziri after they both received wild cards into next month’s tennis event at the Olympic Games.
The official list of entries was released by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) earlier on Tuesday, and Jabeur was thrilled to know that Tunisia – the only Arab country represented in tennis – will have two players competing in London.
“I am so happy, I can’t describe my happiness. I am really so excited to play at the Olympics,” Jabeur told Sport360°.
The 17-year-old has made massive strides up the WTA rankings this season, starting the year ranked 1204 and moving up to her current position at No330.
Having only just started playing regularly on the ladies’ tour, Jabeur admits she never imagined she could feature at the Games so early in her career but it was a goal nonetheless.
“I have been told that I may have the opportunity to play it if I improved my ranking. So, I took my chance and I worked hard. I’m so glad I got it," she said.
“It is possibly the first time (that we have Tunisian tennis players at the Olympics). I think it represents the fact that tennis is being more popular in Tunisia.”
With both Jabeur and Jaziri confirmed to appear in the event on the Wimbledon lawns next month, the pair pose an interesting mixed doubles possibility – an event which has been added to the Olympics roster for the first time since tennis was reintroduced to the Games in 1988.
“I would love to play mixed doubles with Malek,” Jabeur said. “I hope we can arrange that and represent Tunisia together. I think grass is one of my favourite surfaces. A lot of coaches told me that I can be dangerous on grass because my drop shots disturb my opponents.”
Meanwhile, veteran Venus Williams will become the first American to compete in four editions of the Olympics after the 32-year-old was named, along with her sister Serena, as part of the 12-player US contingent competing next month.
Venus won singles gold at Sydney in 2000 and two more with Serena in doubles. Her seven Grand Slam titles include five at Wimbledon.
Australian former world No1 Lleyton Hewitt received a wild card in singles but was furious for not getting an entry in doubles with Chris Guccione.
“Playing in the singles here at the Olympics is a great bonus,” said Hewitt. “At least I get the chance to play here again. But I’m disappointed not to make the doubles. I guess playing as much Davis Cup doesn’t count for anything.”
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