Jabeur reflects on his break from the circuit: "I'd lost my appetite and motivation".

Ons Jabeur made her return to competition at the start of the year. Absent from the circuit since August, the Tunisian is once again enjoying the pleasure of winning matches.

After two good opening tournaments in Brisbane and Adelaide, the former world number 2 reached the third round of the Australian Open after dominating Kalinina and Osorio. A clash with Emma Navarro now awaits her.

The three-time Grand Slam finalist looks back on her comeback and says that her desire and motivation have returned after a few months of doubts.

"When I came back to the courts to train, it was quite difficult for me. It was the first time I'd decided to take a real break.

I think the most important thing is to remember that I have a good level and that I've managed to maintain it for several years, and that didn't happen by chance.

At the moment, I can't say that I'm 100% satisfied with what I want to do, which is to find the sensations that would enable me to compete with incredible players like Gauff, Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina.

I think I lost a bit of that after the second final I lost at Wimbledon in 2023. There were ups and downs.

I'd lost my appetite and motivation, and that's one of the reasons why I stopped.

But the hunger is definitely back, and I want to use it to the full to suffer more on the court and bring home as many balls as I can when I get the chance," Jabeur told the Australian Open website.