Jabeur joins team Tsitsipas by wearing his mask

Ons Jabeur is making an assortment of statements this week in Paris. On Saturday, she upset the No. 8 seed Aryna Sabalenka, 7-6 (7), 2-6, 6-3, to book her ticket into the round of 16, making her the first Arab woman in history to do so.

In press, the 26-year-old has declared herself a proud supporter of Stefanos Tsitsipas by wearing a mask with his cartoon likeness on it.

"It's Tsitsipas. I asked for it," Jabeur said. "He was like, No way you're going to wear it. Of course, I'm going to wear it. I'm Team Tsitsipas."

Jabeur told press she doesn't have any mask designs of herself and joked that she stole the mask from the Greek's team. He never expected her to actually wear it.

"Ons approached me yesterday and asked me if she could have a mask," Tsitsipas told Tennis Channel's Steve Weissman. "I said, 'Yes sure, go ahead, but I'm not sure you're going to wear it.' She said, 'No I'm going to wear it.' And I was proven wrong today."

Despite COVID-19 decimating the 2020 calendar, Jabeur is making the most of her time on court. Earlier this year at the Australian Open she made history by becoming the first Arab woman to reach the quarterfinals of a major. Now, the world No. 35 is making more history in Paris.

She spent years hovering between the Top 50 and Top 100, but her new mindset is taking her to greater heights.

"Just I put something in my head that I kind of got sick being all the time in 50 or Top 100," she said. "I know that I was able to win against some players from Top 10, Top 20. I know I had my spot in there."

The Tunisian's mindset is also allowing her to see clearer on the court and handle her emotions better. In her bout against Sabalenka, she chose to not pump herself up loudly even after executing perfect drop shots. Instead, she remained as calm as possible until the very end.

"I didn't want to, like, scream or do, wow," Jabeur said. "She was really screaming instead of me today. I thought if I was screaming with her, probably is going to make me angry or make her angry. I don't know, if she's angry she plays much better."

In a year full of difficulties, the No. 30 seed is focused on enjoying all of the special moments that are still possible.

"I'm still keeping my motivation on to really play good. To be honest, I'm loving it. I'm trying to enjoy on the court," she said. "Sometimes it's tough with the stress, all the conditions right now. Always try to be 100 percent on the court."

Jabeur will next face the the winner between Danielle Collins and two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza.