Despite heartbreak, Jabeur looks at the brighter side

Ons Jabeur suffered a shoulder injury during her match against Elina Svitolina.

Ons Jabeur's campaign at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships may have ended in heartbreak, but the Tunisian star still preferred to look at the brighter side.
Jabeur, the flag-bearer of African tennis who last year became the first Arab woman to reach a WTA final, stunned two-time defending champion Elina Svitolina with the power and precision of her ground strokes in the second round battle on Tuesday.
With a commanding 4-1 lead in the first set, Jabeur, the highest-ranked Arab player on the Tour, threatened to knock the defending champion out of the tournament and earn the biggest win of her career. But then the Tunisian hurt her shoulder while going for a diving volley.
Despite taking a medical timeout, the 24-year-old Jabeur struggled with her movement as the experienced Svitolina fought back, winning the first set in a tie break before the Tunisian retired with the Ukrainian leading (7-6 4-0).
But having entered the Premier Five tournament on merit, Jabeur was happy as she said Dubai would inspire her to become an even better player.
"I mean I played good tennis. I am improving my ranking now. I am getting there. I know I can beat any top player. I was very close today," the Tunisian, who beat world number 25 Donna Vekic in the first round, told us at the players' lounge on Tuesday.
If not for the shoulder injury, Jabeur could have in a great position to beat world number six Svitolina on Tuesday.
"Yes, it's frustrating to have this kind of injury. After the fall, I wasn't able to play my best tennis, but still I was close," she said. "And I was kind of playing my best tennis in the first set."
Jabeur could soon be back on court, though, as she says the shoulder injury is not a serious one.
"I was nervous during the match because I wasn't feeling alright. But the pain reduced slowly after the match. I thought maybe it's a good sign. I talked to the physio. Hopefully I will recover soon," she said.
"Actually, I haven't got enough rest in recent times because I was playing non-stop from the Fed Cup. Playing doubles in the previous tournament, sleeping late every night and then coming straightway to Dubai, tough matches, maybe it all played a part, you know.
"But having said that, I am happy with my level in Dubai. I am happy with the way I am improving mentally and hopefully I can be stronger next time. Overall I am happy that I have improved my ranking. That's the positive thing."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com