Ons Jabeur has never been one to hold back, and in a lighthearted yet revealing interview on the Nothing Major podcast, the Tunisian fan favorite dished on tour friendships, tactical secrets, and even threw some playful shade at Carlos Alcaraz.
Speaking with John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Jack Sock, Jabeur gave an inside look at life on the WTA Tour, from her closest friendships to why she deserves more credit for one of the most lethal weapons in tennis—the drop shot.
Jabeur’s Inner Circle: Sabalenka, Badosa, and a Whole Lot of Gossip
While tennis is a cutthroat sport, it’s not without friendships, and Jabeur made it clear that her closest allies on tour are Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka.
“I mean, I’m friends with Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka mostly,” Jabeur said. “We don’t hang out a lot—I probably hang out more with Paula—but we talk about stuff, we get each other’s opinions about the tour and everything around it. We gossip,” she added with a mischievous laugh.
While Badosa and Sabalenka are known for their on-court firepower, their off-court bond with Jabeur shows that even in the high-stakes world of professional tennis, genuine friendships thrive.
Drop Shot Debate: Did Jabeur Do It First?
When the conversation shifted to tactical skills, Sam Querrey sparked an interesting debate—why does Carlos Alcaraz get all the credit for the drop shot, when Jabeur has been perfecting it for years?
“Does it annoy you a little that people always talk about his drop shot?” Querrey asked. “I feel like you came up with the drop shot first—you’ve been using it longer than Carlos, and he’s getting more credit when you should be getting it.”
Jabeur, known for her trademark finesse and humor, didn’t hesitate to respond:
“He has a really good drop shot because he plays tactically with it—he doesn’t always know when he’s going to use it. But I like to say he got inspired by me or something, I don’t know.”
Isner, never one to stay quiet, quickly chimed in:
“He’s got to give you a little bit of credit, in my opinion.”
That’s when Jabeur delivered the perfect punchline:
“And probably half of his Grand Slams too.”
Mic drop.
While it’s all good fun, there’s truth behind the joke. Jabeur has long been one of the most creative and innovative players on tour, using her deft touch and unpredictable drop shots to baffle opponents. Yet, it’s Alcaraz who seems to get all the hype for revolutionizing the shot—something that clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Next Up: Jabeur Faces Rising Star Sonobe Wakana
Jabeur’s sharp wit wasn’t just reserved for the podcast—she’s been bringing the fire on court too. After a solid opening-round win against Jelena Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi, she now faces Japan’s Sonobe Wakana, a qualifier and reigning Australian Open junior champion.
While Wakana has been turning heads, Jabeur is on a mission to prove she’s still a force to be reckoned with on the WTA Tour. With momentum on her side and confidence in her game, she’ll be looking to extend her run in the tournament—and maybe even drop a few more sneaky shots in the process.
Will Carlos Alcaraz be watching? Maybe. Will Ons Jabeur remind us all who really owns the drop shot? Absolutely.
