Ons Jabeur reveals what she noticed about Emma Raducanu during practice match they played this week

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Emma Raducanu will be feeling confident as the grass-court season gets underway, with the British star having endured a difficult time of late.

The 21-year-old decided to skip the French Open in a bid to focus on her fitness, having last played in the Madrid Open in April.

A first-round exit was suffered by Raducanu, who needed a mobility scooter to move around after undergoing wrist and ankle operations last year.

She is now back on the court and is feeling ‘really healthy and strong’, with a lengthy run at Wimbledon surely on her agenda.

The major will get underway at the beginning of next month, but up first is another challenge at the Nottingham Open.

Ons Jabeur full of praise for Emma Raducanu after their practice match

And Raducanu has already stormed into the next round thanks to a 6-1, 6-4 win over Japan’s Ena Shibahara in round one.

Hard work was key to that win, with the British ace having prepared by taking part in a practice match with Ons Jabeur.

The two-time Wimbledon finalist has now praised Raducanu’s efforts behind the scenes, wishing her fellow professional well for future tournaments.

“Honestly she is practising really well,” said Jabeur, as per the official LTA YouTube channel. “I have seen her hitting great balls.

“I know she has been practising on grass for a long time and I love how Emma plays. I love her personality and I honestly wish to see her succeed.”

Can Ons Jabeur finally end her Wimbledon pain?

There will be plenty of focus on Raducanu in the build-up to Wimbledon, particularly if she can enjoy a lengthy run in Nottingham.

Jabeur will also be looking to find form ahead of Wimbledon, with the Tunisian coming painfully close to success there in recent times.

The 29-year-old is still chasing her first Grand Slam, having lost three finals in her impressive career so far.

Two of those came on the grass in London, with Jabeur defeated by Elena Rybakina in 2022 and Marketa Vondrousova in 2023.

A third successive final defeat would be really harsh, but the world number 10 has found some form ahead of the major.

She reached the quarter-finals of the French Open, losing 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to American star Coco Gauff, with the latter full of praise for the former after the match.