Australian Open 2024: Ons Jabeur praises fans for easing 'stress' in 67-minute win
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Ons Jabeur spent little more than an hour on court in her first competitive match for more than two months
Ons Jabeur says her fans made her feel less "stressed" in her rapid opening win at the 2024 Australian Open.
Tunisian sixth seed Jabeur took 67 minutes to beat Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3 6-1.
"It's very, very special to come back here," Jabeur said after her first competitive match since November.
"I decided to rest a bit and just play this tournament. The crowd really helped. I was a little bit stressed but the crowd made me less stressed."
The Melbourne Grand Slam has been Jabeur's least successful major, with her only appearance beyond the third round coming when she reached the quarter-finals in 2020.
Jabeur lost in last year's second round to Marketa Vondrousova, who also handed her a painful surprise defeat in her second Wimbledon final in July.
A meeting with Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who beat American Bernarda Pera 7-5 6-2, awaits Jabeur next as she pursues a first Grand Slam triumph, having also been the 2022 US Open runner-up.
"Last year wasn't so great here," reflected Jabeur, praising the loyalty of her supporters on Margaret Court Arena.
"I had some guys cheering for me from 2016, when I was playing qualifying, and holding [signs].
"They've been following me since qualifying, so that's really something."
Despite Jabeur's affection for Australia, the world number six's schedule has afforded her little time to explore her surroundings.
"I'm a very bad tourist," said the 29-year-old. "When I retire from tennis I will find plenty of time to go around Melbourne but for now, basically, my life is hotels.
"I've been enjoying the restaurant because I love food."