The ATP and WTA tour had a hectic schedule this year. New events and schedules are reshaping the tennis tour, forcing stars to invest more time in travel and on-court engagements. The habit of constant travel has stuck in the lifestyle of tennis players. Abu Dhabi played host to the presence of Ons Jabeur, Holger Rune, and Maria Sharapova as they spent their time around the high-speed tracks.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the concluding event for the F1 season. While the action was taken on the track, Rune thought twice about finishing his course to get his driver’s license. The Danish player was inspired after meeting Charles Leclerc, who stood second in the race. On the other hand, Sharapova rooted for Jabeur to win her first grand slam next season.
Now I am inspired to finish my drivers license 🏎️😃 #abudhabiGP pic.twitter.com/YQxezE3AgM
— Holger Rune (@holgerrune2003) November 26, 2023
Off to the races 🏎️
Ons Jabeur and Maria Sharapova at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.#F1 | @OnsJabeur | @MariaSharapova pic.twitter.com/q9HkZKgdWE
— Eurosport (@eurosport) November 26, 2023
Jabeur finished this season with 36 wins and 17 losses. She will have found inspiration after spending time with Sharapova, who knows the hardships of a player on the tour. Jabeur might have also found inspiration from Max Verstappen, who stole the show in Abu Dhabi and has been breaking records since the start of the season.
Ons Jabeur is hoping to open a grand slam account in the 2024 season
The 2024 season will see Jabeur playing with a stronger mindset. The 29-year-old has so far lost her first three grand slam finals. She has finished runner-up at Wimbledon in the past two editions, which has affected her form on the tour. 5-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova also rooted for the Tunisian to win in 2024. She said in Rennae Stubbs podcast, “I’m rooting for Ons to win her first Grand Slam. She deserves that so much.”
We are going to make it one day. I promise ❤️ 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/Up0pLT12HF
— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) July 15, 2023
The world No.6 has spoken on multiple instances about how the defeats have affected her mentally. Jabeur won 14 matches out of 22 after Wimbledon this season. But Jabeur still has not lost hope and continues to fight back in each event she plays in. A grand slam victory next season can boost her career.
Holger Rune to continue the 2024 season with Boris Becker
The final stages of the 2023 season saw Rune suffering 11 losses in 18 matches. He was heading for his worst losing streak until a change was made in his coaching team. The Danish player brought Boris Becker into his team for a contract until the end of the season. But now the contract has been extended to next season as Rune’s performance has improved under Becker.
I am very excited to continue my partnership with @holgerrune2003 in 2024. We are building a team around Holger to bring out the best version of himself, on and off the court. pic.twitter.com/O3BaicY5VA
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) November 19, 2023
The world No. 8 reached the semifinals at Basel and lost in the quarterfinals at Paris Masters. Becker’s influence has already taken effect quickly, leading up to a promising 2024 season for Rune. He will play in London in the second week of December. Rune will be playing in the Ultimate Tennis showdown event for two days.