How a 'Spanish mentality' is carrying Ons Jabeur to a resurgence in Madrid

Ons Jabeur has every right to be in good spirits at the Mutua Madrid Open. For the first time in 2024, she's won back-to-back matches, and further still, new and deeper relationships are blossoming, on and off the court.

The first? Her friendship with self-described tour "soulmates," Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka, the latter of whom visited the Tennis Channel Desk this week and dubbed Jabeur her "bestie."

"They're both kids, you know. I'm here as a psychologist between them," Jabeur joked in response Prakash Amritraj after a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 win over Leylah Fernandez on Saturday.

"I love both, obviously. I think Aryna and Paula have the connection of the fashion: 'I wore this, I wore that, I bought this new purse,' and I go to the real thing. 'What do you need? Let's go have dinner.'

"They're unbelievably nice people. We got a bit more close with Paula lately. I really wish her all the best. She's struggling a little bit right now, but I know she's going to come back stronger."

The second? A (sort of) new partnership with former world No. 7 Fernando Verdasco, whose help she's enlisted at this week's WTA 1000. The one-time Grand Slam semifinalist has been working with Jordanian 20-year-old Abdullah Shelbayh, and agreed to help Jabeur out in Madrid as her full-time coach Issam Jellali is back in Tunisia.

The verdict so far? "My backhand is much better. I've been trying to be a lefty for a while, so I think it's working out," Jabeur joked.

But there is a touch of truth behind the Tunisian's one-liners.

"Fernando is such an amazing person. We are close. I've known him for a long time. It's always nice to chat with him and have his vision about tennis; I've always been a fan of his as a tennis player and also a person," she continued.

"It's nice to get the insights of a professional tennis player and see how he thinks. I share sometimes my frustrations on court ... 'You think I should've done that, or this?' It's really amazing to see his insights. Maybe I'll have the Spanish mentality for this week!

"[He's helping] a lot on the mentality side, and a lot of working on myself, on some shots, on the choices of where to put to the shots. I'm grinding like as Spanish [player] in these two matches, if you see me going with the high spin. It's a lot of getting those insights from him. Obviously, I can do a spin, but I feel like it's more Spanish, not Tunisian anymore!"

Jabeur, the 2022 champion in Madrid, will face former Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko on Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals.