"I believe in destiny," says Jabeur, lucky loser, after her victory against Paolini in Berlin

Defeated in the final round of qualifying for the WTA 500 tournament in Berlin by Wang Xinyu, Ons Jabeur was ultimately given a second chance and seized it perfectly to shine in the German capital.

The Tunisian, now ranked 61st in the world, eliminated Caroline Dolehide (7-6, 6-1) before delivering a strong performance on Wednesday to defeat Jasmine Paolini (6-1, 6-3) in a clash between two former Wimbledon finalists. Speaking to Tennis Channel, the former WTA No. 2 reflected on her journey in Berlin.

"I believe in destiny—I always believe things happen for a reason. I’ve always been told not to be negative despite tough times. Maybe this is a good thing. I didn’t take my loss in the final round of qualifying too hard.

Getting the chance to be a lucky loser and continue my path—maybe it was meant to happen this way. I hope it will be a good tournament. I’ve had quite a bit of success here in Berlin over the last few years.

It’s a beautiful city, and the people are very relaxed here. Today’s match was high-quality. It will really help me overcome the obstacles I’ve faced in recent months. I hope to feel better on the court and play my game. Jasmine (Paolini) plays excellent tennis.

I had to get revenge after our last few matches. I know she adapts quickly to grass, but I’m taking this win with great pleasure," said Jabeur, who will face Diana Shnaider or Marketa Vondrousova for a spot in the semifinals.