World No. 4 Ons Jabeur revealed she was absolutely stunned after Serena Williams called her by her name when they met five years ago.
On Tuesday, Williams revealed her plans to make her long-awaited comeback next week in Eastbourne.
Williams decided to play doubles in her first tournament back and she picked Jabeur to be her partner.
Around five years, Jabeur met Williams for the first time and she was stunned after realizing the American knew who she was.
“We talked to each other a few times. She’s very nice, especially when she was with her daughter. I was trying to speak French a little with her; she could speak really good French. And we had a moment when she was pregnant. I said, ‘Congratulations,’ and she said, ‘Thank you, Ons.’ And I was like, ‘You know my name? Really? You know I exist?’ So it’s great. I’ve practiced with Venus more, never with Serena; hopefully we will get our first practice next week,” Jabeur told Racquet magazine.
Jabeur on teaming up with Williams
Two months ago, Williams split with her long-time coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Now, Williams is working with Eric Hechtman, who also works with her sister Venus Williams.
“My coach, he’s in contact with her coach, Eric [Hechtman]. And yeah, I mean, “Would I play doubles with Serena?” I mean, obviously the answer was yes. She was coming back; I didn’t know where. I wasn’t sure, actually, to play at Eastbourne. But now I’m 100 percent sure I will go, just for doubles,” Jabeur said.
One thing is for sure, Jabeur will do her absolute best to do well with Williams.
“I hope she was, yeah. [Laughs] I mean, I’m pretty lucky that she picked me, and I’m going to try to be 100 percent on the court, and serve like Andy Roddick, make volleys like the Bryans, just trying to be really good on court,” Jabeur said.