‘Little steps to winning a Grand Slam’ - Ons Jabeur dominates Diana Shnaider in landslide victory to win Ningbo Open
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Published 30/09/2023 at 16:10 GMT
Ons Jabuer is already looking ahead to her next challenge at a Grand Slam tournament after beating Diana Shnaider in straight sets to win the Ningbo Open in China. The Tunisian described winning the WTA 250 trophy as “little steps to winning a Grand Slam”, something she has been unable to do despite reaching three major finals in the last 15 months.
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Ons Jabeur beat Diana Shnaider 6-2 6-1 to win the Ningbo Open title following a dominant performance in China.
The 29-year-old, who was a last-minute wildcard entry to the tournament, rallied to victory in 78 minutes to win her first hard-court title.
Ranked seventh in the world, Jabeur used the win as preparation for another shot at a major title, an honour she is yet to win despite losing three finals in the last 15 months.
"These are little steps to winning a Grand Slam final," she said after her victory. “Playing a final here is more relaxed than playing a Grand Slam final, but I think it will help me gain confidence more, and to help me manage the pressure and stress.
"I felt more solid [than in previous matches], I felt tactically I played very well, I had an advantage in that I had more experience than [Shnaider] to manage certain points."
Shnaider, 19, was playing in her first career final and participating in only her ninth WTA main draw.
Jabeur came through against the world No.85-ranked teenager comfortably in the end, but she left Ningbo Tennis Center impressed.
"I think [Shnaider] is a terrific player and she really gave me a hard time,” she said of her opponent. “I know the score is two and one, but it was more difficult than you see it.
“She has a lot of potential - her game is really solid so I really expect to see her bothering other players.
“It was funny and cute that she shared the story of the Moscow final a few years back, where she first saw me playing. When I met her at the French Open this year, she told me about it.”
Saturday’s match was arguably the easiest test Jabeur faced in China in the lead-up to the final.
She had already been pushed to three sets twice this week against Vera Zvonareva and Nadia Podoroska in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively.
But unfortunately for Shnaider, Jabeur saved the best for last and oozed quality in the final, showing consistently high levels throughout the tie.
She notched 18 winners to only 10 unforced errors in a professional display and saved all three break points she faced.
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