A master of on-court disguise, a proponent of chess-like strategies with her drop shots, deceptive slices and unsuspecting net approaches, Ons Jabeur delights in guessing games.
So it should come as little surprise the second seed for this year’s Australian Open enjoys dropping a largely unhelpful clue when asked about which Grand Slam trophy now takes pride of place on her phone’s lock screen.
DRAW: Australian Open 2023 men's singles
DRAW: Australian Open 2023 women's singles
Last year, the 28-year-old admitted the Venus Rosewater Dish filled her screen during Wimbledon, a campaign that resulted in a first major final, where she fell shy against Elena Rybakina.
“I'm not sure if I can tell you,” she grinned. “I'll give you a hint, what I'll tell you. There is one trophy there.
"Actually, you know what, there is one trophy in my phone and one trophy in my husband's phone. Different ones… I just want to keep you like that, guys. I love it.”
Jabeur ended last year with back-to-back Grand Slam finals, before her run in New York ended at the hands of a rampant No.1, Iga Swiatek.
Far from adding unwanted pressure to her pursuit of more in 2023, Jabeur views the phone home screen trophy photos as a reminder of her ambitions, rather than an unlucky omen.
“That's always how I worked. It's been always great for me that I tell you guys what I want to achieve, I tell you my goals,” she said.
“I put it out there, make a promise to you guys. I hate to break my promises. I see it that way.
“I tell you guys I want to win Grand Slams. OK, you're expecting me to win. I can't disappoint you.”
Three years ago, Jabeur made waves at Melbourne Park when she defeated Johanna Konta, Caroline Garcia, the retiring Caroline Wozniacki and Wang Qiang in succession to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
While she fell to eventual champion Sofia Kenin, she was the toast of Tunisia, the first Arab woman to have made it as far at a major.
ONS JABEUR: The Minister of Happiness
At the time, the then 25-year-old had not claimed a singles title.
She has since landed three, including a first at WTA 1000 level last year in Madrid.
The goal posts have clearly shifted.
Her joy at having reached that first major quarterfinal would not be quite as profound at the same stage this time round.
“I may not be as happy as I was in 2020 reaching the quarterfinal,” she said.
“It's still a quarterfinal, you know? I just like to give every round what every round deserves.
“The goal as second in the world is to be in the second week, to make finals.
“I like this kind of pressure. I'm going to put more pressure on myself because I feel like sometimes you just need that to be one of the top players.”
Jabeur warmed up for her sixth Australian Open campaign with a semifinal run in Adelaide where she fell to Czech teen Linda Noskova.
During the match she required treatment on her lower back, but allayed fears it was as serious as last year, when she ended up missing the Australian Open.
“It's actually much, much better. I just needed a couple days to just be ready,” Jabeur said.
“You know, it's the beginning of the season, but also kind of the last of the season somehow. I'm very happy that I'm back. I've been training really well.”
Drawn to face former Roland Garros semifinalist Tamara Zidansek in the opening round, Jabeur believes five players are realistically in the fray to emerge with the silverware at the end of the fortnight at Melbourne Park.
No guessing whether she considered herself one of the five as she laid bare her goals for 2023.
“I want to be No.1 in the world, not just the number but also the level and the discipline around it,” she said. “I want to win more titles and get that Grand Slam title, for sure.”