Confident Jabeur sets sights on top ranking

LONDON : 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.

But she crashed out of the claycourt major in the opening round.

"I don't like to make the mistake twice," Jabeur, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2021, said with a big smile. "I learned a lot from the first round in Roland Garros.

"Obviously, everything feels different here. I feel like more ready. Starting Monday not Sunday is much better for me. Let's say I opened the Court One, and it was great.

"I enjoy playing a lot on grass. Scheduling, playing few matches, just get the perfect amount of playing on grass was