Bacsinszky: Ons Jabeur is showing women in North Africa that anything is possible

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  • Wise words: From Timea Bacsinszky.

    Timea Bacsinszky knows that she stood in the way of history with her 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Tunisian Ons Jabeur on Friday but the Swiss No30 seed is confident her opponent has plenty more success ahead of her.

    Bacsinszky, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros in 2015, stopped Jabeur from becoming the first Arab woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam and the first Arab – man or woman – to make it into the French Open second week since Younes El Aynaoui in 2000.

    “In one way I can feel sorry, I mean, because she’s a great person, a great player, and she deserves way more wins than only this third round,” said Bacsinszky after she booked a fourth round clash with Venus Williams.

    “I’m sorry that I stopped her, I mean, yeah, her dream. But I think it’s happening all year long, as well.

    “But I’m not really worried about her, because if she can get the motivation that she had here on this tournament on every tournament during the whole year, I think she could have an amazing level.”

    Tunisian pride: Ons Jabeur.

    Tunisian pride: Ons Jabeur.

    Jabeur, who is just 22 years old, was making her Roland Garros main draw debut, and is now on the brink of breaking the top 100 for the first time. Bacsinszky predicts a bright future for the young Tunisian.

    “This is something that you don’t learn that quickly. I mean, she’s still young. Probably a lot of expectations, as well, on her shoulders. So people have to understand that, too. It’s what she did already is pretty amazing. I mean, during her whole career,” explained Bacsinszky, who turns 28 next week.

    “I knew Selima Sfar (the only Arab woman to reach the top 100) as well pretty well. We played a couple of doubles together. She’s a great, great person and player, as well.

    “So she kind of continued Selima’s legacy, as well, which is quite good. It shows women in North Africa that anything is possible, and that women are limitless, as well, and there are options, there are ways to live their dreams.

    “Ons for sure should be very, very proud of the person she is and of what she carries. It’s a privilege. But for sure this is a lot of pressure, but she should just play for herself and play for her own dreams and goals.”

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