Paula Badosa channels food feud into epic clash with Ons Jabeur in Stuttgart

What’s a little implied dietary sabotage between friends?

One thing’s for sure: Paula Badosa and Ons Jabeur know how to keep a good joke going. Before their scheduled Porsche Tennis Grand Prix quarterfinal, Jabeur reignited her friendly food feud with Badosa, offering a sample of spicy Tunisian harissa in the hopes of slowing her down.

Badosa quickly replied on Twitter:

It all started last fall when Jabeur, having just reached her first WTA 1000 semifinal at the BNP Paribas Open, playfully hoped friend Badosa would be on court “five hours” in her quarterfinal against former finalist Angelique Kerber.

Badosa escaped in two sets and decided that turnabout was indeed fair play.

“I hope tonight she eats a lot of burgers and she cannot play,” she joked in press. “We were talking just now!”

The banter continued on social media when Jabeur threatened her own special delivery:

The two ultimately set aside their “differences” to each play some phenomenal tennis: Badosa won her second straight match over Jabeur on Friday, surviving a second-set hiccup to reach her first Stuttgart semifinal, 7-6 (9), 1-6, 6-3.

No word on whether dinner was on(s) Jabeur.