Ons Jabeur opens up on overcoming feeling ‘depressed’ to beat Jessica Pegula

World No 2 Ons Jabeur revealed she felt she needed to change the rhythm and impose her game if she wanted to clinch a comeback win over Jessica Pegula at the WTA Finals.

In her second group stage match at the WTA Finals, Jabeur recovered from a set down to beat third-ranked Pegula 1-6 6-3 6-3.

“After the first set, she was playing really well and really fast. The balls were tough, very low – I know she likes to play the balls like that. And I just had to find that click to just change up the rhythm and impose my game,” Jabeur said on Tennis Channel.

Jabeur and Pegula were playing against each other for the sixth time.

The head-to-head between the two now stands at 4-2 in Jabeur’s favor.

“It’s never easy playing Jess. She plays super-fast, and it was super-fast from the beginning. I had to find my rhythm,” Jabeur added.

Jabeur, who suffered a devastating three-set loss to Aryna Sabalenka in her first group match, felt depressed afterward but was glad that she was able to bounce back against Pegula.

“Honestly, it was very tough. Because I’m used to being depressed for the next two days when I lose. I didn’t have much time. It was very hard to sleep the first day to be honest with you,” Jabeur admitted.

How Jabeur defeated Pegula?

Jabeur served out the opening game of the match, before Pegula claimed three breaks in a row and won six consecutive games to win the first set in style.

After losing the first set, Jabeur started the second set with an early break in the third game.

But Pegula broke back Jabeur quickly and led 3-2 after the opening five games of the second set.

Then, Jabeur lifted her game to another level as she claimed back-to-back breaks and won four games in a row to win the second set and force a decider.

In the third set, Jabeur earned the first break in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead before serving out for the match in the following game.