Tunisia hails Jabeur

A phone call from her president wasn’t enough to help Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur as she bowed out of the Australian Open after her historic run to the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Jabeur, the first Arab woman to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam, went down 6-4, 6-4 to the American Sofia Kenin.

Jabeur, the first Tunisian woman to win a main-draw match at the Australian Open, said: “I heard a lot from Tunisia, my phone is still going crazy right now.

“I actually talked to the president of Tunisia. He called me and wished me good luck, that was really nice of him. I talked to a lot of politicians in Tunisia. They called me also.

“Everyone is crazy. A lot of people are calling and wishing me good luck.”

The 25-year-old said her phone was still red-hot even after defeat.

“Still actually receiving really good messages that they are proud,” she said.