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Tennis News –
Ukrainian tennis player Yuliia Starodubtseva reflects on Australian Open match against World No. 6 Ons JabeurFacing the World No. 6: Yuliia Starodubtseva on overcoming nerves and "silly mistakes" at the Australian Open In an insightful interview with the YouTube channel "Sorokin Tennis," Ukrainian tennis player Yuliya Starodubtseva shared her experience of playing in the first round of the Australian Open against the sixth-ranked player in the world, Ons Jabeur. Starodubtseva, who qualified for the main draw, was initially hopeful for a more manageable opponent but found herself matched against Jabeur. "I quickly checked the draw to see the potential qualifiers' opponents. I knew I could play against Sabalenka, among other strong players, but also a wild card. Of course, I hoped for a wild card," she laughed, "but then my boyfriend, sitting next to me, said, 'You're playing Jabeur.' At that moment, I thought, 'Okay, Jabeur it is.' I was still buoyed by my qualifying win." The realization of her high-profile match sank in later. "I had two days before the game and thought, 'I'm playing Jabeur? She's sixth in the world.' It hits you later," she chuckled. Despite trying to ignore the enormity of playing on the central court against such a high-ranking opponent, the gravity of the situation inevitably crept in. Starodubtseva described the overwhelming feeling of stepping onto the court, where every gesture is captured on camera and the crowd's applause is thunderously loud. "No matter how much I mentally prepared, knowing who I was up against, and how many people would be watching, none of it helped in the moment. You're just in shock at what's happening," she recounted. Even achieving an early break in the game didn't quell her nerves. "When I led 1-0, the applause was so loud... Emotions start to overflow, and you can't think about the match... At least, I couldn't."  Reflecting on her performance, Starodubtseva acknowledged the difficulty in maintaining self-esteem throughout the past year. Her tennis self-esteem only began to solidify after defeating top-200 players three times. "When I stepped out against Jabeur, I knew it would be tough. I told myself to just play my game and not to give my opponent too much respect, yet during the match, I made absolutely silly mistakes I would never have made in the qualifiers." This candid recount of Starodubtseva's match against Ons Jabeur at the Australian Open provides a rare glimpse into the mental and emotional challenges athletes face at the highest levels of competition. It underscores not just the physical, but the significant psychological hurdles players overcome in Grand Slam events. Фото: Getty Images. |
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