Tennis-Confident Jabeur sets sights on Wimbledon top ranking
The Hindu
Jabeur storms into the Wimbledon second round with a straight-sets win over Swedish qualifier Mirjam Bjorklund
Having climbed to a career-high ranking of second on Monday, Tunisian trailblazer Ons Jabeur was already plotting on dethroning Iga Swiatek as the world number one.
The 27-year-old surpassed South African Amanda Coetzer, who reached the world number three ranking in 1997 to become the highest-ranked African player in history.
But Jabeur is aiming higher.
"I do feel more confident. I do feel like I deserve to be in this level. Hopefully, next step will be number one," Jabeur told reporters after storming into the Wimbledon second round with a straight-sets win over Swedish qualifier Mirjam Bjorklund.
"It's going to be tough, but not impossible. Obviously, Iga is kind of a little bit far from us now... I'll try my best to catch up to her. Obviously if I don't do it this year, hopefully beginning of next year.
"But the most important thing, I want to have the level to be number one. Everybody is looking forward to win against number one. I want to be, like, really deserve that spot. Hopefully I can be the level that Iga is playing right now."
Jabeur was considered the most likely contender to beat Swiatek at Roland Garros, having arrived in Paris after winning a title in Madrid and a runner-up finish in Rome.