Malek Jaziri Reflects On Semi-final Run In Dubai
Malek Jaziri waves to the crowd after his quarter-final win over fellow wild card Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“I took a lot of confidence from this week. I need to build all the positive things from this week, to continue for positive energy, positive way to work.” — Malek Jaziri
Wild card Malek Jaziri of Tunisia has been the sensation of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships since he stunned No. 1 seed Grigor Dimitrov in the opening round to claim the first Top 10 win of his career. He backed up that victory with triumphs over Robin Haase and Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the semi-finals, the first player of Arabic descent to do so in Dubai since Younes El Aynaoui (2002).
The 34-year-old Jaziri spoke to media after his semi-final loss to Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday.
On his biggest takeaway from this week: “I took a lot of confidence from this week. I need to build all the positive things from this week, to continue for positive energy, positive way to work. Hopefully I will make even hopefully good season this year”
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On what he’s most proud of: “I’m proud I won lot of matches. Tunisians, lot of people, I make them happy I can see in the face. For me, as well, I took a lot of confidence from this week mentally and tennistically as well. I gived energy to my team, as well, to work harder for the season, to put good objective to make great season, as well.”
On returning to the Top 100 when rankings are released on Monday 5 March: “[The Top-100 ranking will] give me confidence to play more relaxed little bit. You know that you will be in the Grand Slam main draw. It will give you more opportunities. Even ATP, next entries in the Barcelona ATP, Monte-Carlo. Maybe if I play a few weeks better, I have a chance as well.”
