\n
\nNEW YORK: I am through to the US Open quarterfinals for the first time in my career and I did it thanks to a tough win over Veronika Kudermetova at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s never easy to play Veronika. She hits really hard and serves really well. But as soon as I got my rhythm and stepped inside the court a little bit more, it was much better for me. I was more aggressive and followed the tactics set out by my coach Issam (Jellali). I think that helped me a lot. So did the belief I had that I could come back after one break down. That was very, very important. I think I played the tiebreak really well and I was the better player on the important points.<\/p>\n
\nI was smiling a lot on court today because I was watching all the people dancing in the stands. On some points I went full power on my shots and I hit so many lines, which usually I never do. In fact, it\u2019s usually the opposite and my opponents are the ones hitting the lines against me. I\u2019m definitely glad I got that win and hopefully I can continue playing this way because I love how I\u2019m playing right now.<\/p>\n
\nThis was my first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium since 2017 when I played Coco Vandeweghe. Back then I was a different player, mostly just wanting to go on the court, have a great match and that\u2019s it. Today, there was a lot of pressure, but I still managed to enjoy myself on court. I really wanted to win against Veronika, someone I had never beaten before in all three previous meetings, which was extra pressure.<\/p>\n
\nPlus playing the night session, it wasn\u2019t the same. I usually play at 11 a.m., so my schedule completely changed and I had to adapt because usually at 10 p.m. I\u2019m sleeping in bed, not preparing for a match. I\u2019m glad I adapted to all the difficulties around me. Definitely the atmosphere on the court, as soon as I stepped in, the crowd cheering for me, kind of helped me and gave me enough energy.<\/p>\n
\nThe legendary Arantxa Sanchez Vicario was in my player box today. She was there as a friend supporting me, nothing more. We talk from time to time and she gives me great advice. It\u2019s so nice to talk to her and to have someone like her following me and backing me. The first time we met was in Charleston this year and it immediately felt like we\u2019d known each other for years.<\/p>\n
\nI watched a little bit of the Nick Kyrgios-Daniil Medvedev match that was on before me. They had some insane points. I joked with a reporter who asked me if I was watching, and maybe got inspired by Nick\u2019s serve because I served amazing today.<\/p>\n
\nI was mostly watching the other match taking place at the same time between Ajla Tomljanovic and Liudmila Samsonova. I don\u2019t know why but today I just served really, really well. When I practiced with Serena Williams before the tournament, I asked her to leave her serve behind for me. Now that she is evolving away from the sport, she doesn\u2019t need it anymore. So who knows, maybe she really did leave me her serve and that kind of helped me.<\/p>\n
\nMy next opponent Ajla is a tough player, a physical one and it\u2019s going to be a physical match between us. I\u2019m going to try to play like today. It\u2019s not easy to play her, I know that, but hopefully the crowd will be with me.<\/p>\n
\nI don\u2019t know why but I\u2019ve been thinking a lot about my late grandmother recently, she\u2019s been on my mind. I kept asking her for support during my fourth round match with Veronika, especially in the last game. I wish she was here to see how successful I am and how far I\u2019ve come. She was always supportive and I just really miss her.<\/p>\n
\nThe US Open balls have been a hot topic this year, with many players including world No. 1 Iga Swiatek noting the fact that we play with a different ball compared to the men here in New York. Some girls have texted me about this issue and I told them I\u2019m the worst person to be asked about this. I adapt very fast. If you ask me to play with rocks, I\u2019ll play with rocks. I have no problem.<\/p>\n
\nSome players like the balls, and some don\u2019t. Apparently they weigh the same, it\u2019s just the pressure is more in one ball. Obviously if you factor in doubles and mixed doubles, it\u2019s much easier to play with the same balls across all three events, and if we play with the same balls as the men in each Grand Slam, it makes sense to play with the same ones here at the US Open. So I told them you girls decide and whatever you feel like, we can give it a shot and see what happens.<\/p>\n
\nFor me, I will adapt no matter what, and even if you ask me to change the racket, I\u2019d do it.<\/p>\n
\n*Tunisia\u2019s world No. 5 Ons Jabeur was talking to Reem Abulleil in New York following her fourth round victory over Veronika Kudermetova in the early hours of Monday morning*<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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