Quote of the Day: Ons Jabeur waits on Rolex from friendly rival Iga Swiatek

WATCH: Jabeur's unforgettable US Open run featured a dream meeting with idol and 2003 champion Andy Roddick.

NEW YORK—Ons Jabeur may have lost the 2022 US Open, but she hasn’t lost her sense of humor.

The beaten finalist ends a breakthrough Grand Slam season with back-to-back finals and a guaranteed return to the No. 2 ranking, but the talented Tunisian admitted she certainly aspires for more as her rivalry with Iga Swiatek deepens:

Q. I know you said that you don't like Iga today, but tomorrow everything is going to change. You mentioned you hope to catch Iga one day. Last year you played her twice, won twice. This year you played her twice, lost twice. Seems like you're going to play again in the WTA Finals. What do you need to do different? How did she improve?

ONS JABEUR:That's a lot of questions in one question. I'll try to remember (smiling).

Yeah, definitely we'll play each other because she's No. 1, I'm No. 2. Hopefully it will be great matches between us.

But, yeah, she improved a lot I think her forehand and her serve. She's always been solid in the backhand. That's kind of tough.

Physically she's everywhere. She can bring any ball. It's always tough to play someone that puts one more shot in.

Yeah, we'll play each other in the Finals, I think so. Maybe we'll be different groups. I don't know. But, yeah, catching up in the ranking, I know she has a lot of defending points, I have none. That's kind of the goal.

It will always be great to compete against Iga. I was joking when I said I don't like her. I'll forgive her when she gives me a Rolex or something (smiling).

Aware of the opportunities in front of her next season, Jabeur is unlikely to be swayed even by the sweetest serving of tiramisu from her friendly foe, but given her drive to wrest the top spot, it may not hurt Swiatek to offer!