adminOns Jabeur in LONDON
OF course, I was really disappointed to lose in my first Grand Slam final but I am a positive person who always tries to look on the bright side – so that will help me to get over losing at Wimbledon.
That’s part of why we play tennis – there has to be one winner and one loser. Unfortunately, I was the loser against Elena Rybakina.
Staying positive is definitely the attitude I try to go for. Like Bob Marley sang, ‘Don’t worry, because every little thing is going to be all right!’
I don’t want to waste what has been a wonderful two weeks at Wimbledon just because I lost in the final.
During Wimbledon and the other grass-court tournaments, I know I have improved a lot of things.
As well as my own positivity, I’m very lucky I have a positive team around me – which includes my coach Issam and my husband Karim, who is also my fitness coach.
Shortly after I lost the final, I saw my husband at the gym and we hugged.
That’s when I started crying.
Then my coach came in too and they both kept talking positively to me about what I had achieved.
After all, I had been in the final of Wimbledon and they told me: “This not a small thing – this is a huge moment.”
They told me: “Remember the first time you lost your first few finals at WTA 250 level and how we thought everything was over? Well then you stepped up and came back stronger – now look at you and where you are.”
It was a really positive talk from them and it made me feel much better – and better about myself.
I think their encouragement made me feel really positive and that’s why I was quite happy when I was talking to the journalists in the press conference.
I would have cried in front of the journalists if Issam and Karim had not talked to me first.
Crying is not something to be ashamed of and I prefer to let it out than keep it inside.
I have cried after other matches in the past, especially the ones where losing really hurts.
I am a sensitive person and I’m into emotional things. Sometimes I cry a little bit and sometimes I cry like a river.
But I’m very positive about what is going to happen in the future.
I always believed I could win a Grand Slam and being surrounded by Serena Williams, who picked me to play doubles at Eastbourne, gave me added belief that I could go far at Wimbledon.
This is the first step of so many other steps – I truly believe that – and playing this final will definitely give me more confidence to go forward. – BBC Sport
Online Reporter