Ons Jabeur was “happy crying” after post-Wimbledon message from Andy Roddick

FLASHBACK: Ons Jabeur Cried "Together" With Kim Clijsters After Falling To 0-3 In Major Finals | Wimbledon

CINCINNATI, Ohio—While processing a brutal Wimbledon defeat, two-time finalist Ons Jabeur revealed that she was left “happy crying” after receiving a lengthy message from her idol Andy Roddick.

Speaking to press on Sunday at the Western & Southern Open, Jabeur cut a pensive figure ahead of her first tournament after Wimbledon—where she reached her third Grand Slam final, but fell in straight sets to unseeded Marketa Vondrousova in what she called "the most painful loss" of her career.

The Tunisian’s heartbreak seemed to resonate with former ATP world No. 1 Roddick, the last American man to win a Grand Slam with his 2003 US Open victory. Roddick also suffered three Wimbledon final defeats of his own, all at the hands of Swiss great Roger Federer. In a recent column for Betway, he revealed that he reached out to Jabeur after her SW19 defeat, urging her to rest, recover and, most importantly, continue to believe in herself.

“On top of being a great player and a great person, her story is incredible,” Roddick wrote. “Coming from Tunisia, trailblazing for that part of the world, being so dynamic and comfortable in that role—she has a lot to be proud of.

“I actually sent her a message after the final and said, ‘Listen, if you ever want to chat, I've been where you are right now. But I have more faith in you winning Wimbledon than I ever had in myself winning Wimbledon.’ ...Take a breath, take a minute, make sure you prepare, keep your fitness going.

“She's someone I really hope wins a Grand Slam title at some point.”

Jabeur says she was moved by the message, one of the dozens she received from friends and peers, as well as global sports figures. She also shouted out Walid Regragui, the head coach of Morocco’s national soccer team who led his country to a surprise World Cup semifinal in 2022, among other well-wishers.

But it was Roddick’s words in particular that stood out, she revealed, having grown up watching the American’s own victories and heartbreaks—including the 2009 Wimbledon final, which saw Roddick take Federer to a 16-14 fifth set before the Swiss clinched his 15th Grand Slam title.

“I got a lot of amazing messages. Like, Andy was one of the ones I was surprised with,” she admitted. “And obviously I was crying, you know, happy crying,” she added, as she mimed herself scrolling on her phone in tears. “I don't know what it was, but it was very nice of him.

“I appreciate that he took the time to write a good long message. I'm definitely talking to him when I see him, probably at the US Open.”

After taking time off to mentally recover and relax with her family, Jabeur is back in action this week in Cincinnati as the No. 5 seed. Into the second round with a bye, she awaits the winner of Zhu Lin and Anhelina Kalinina.