Ons Jabeur struggled to hold back the tears after losing a second consecutive grand slam final on Saturday, but while the Tunisian said her US Open defeat to Iga Swiatek was tough to take she vowed to come back. The 28-year-old Tunisian, who lost her first grand slam title match at Wimbledon in July, was beaten 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) by world No.1 Swiatek at Flushing Meadows. She told reporters that not even the sting of defeat on the sport’s biggest stage could keep her down for long.

“I struggled to win my first WTA title. It took me time. So I believe this will take me time,” said Jabeur, who will regain the world No. 2 ranking after the tournament concludes. “The most important thing is accepting it, you know, learning from the finals that I lost.” She, however, did not lose her sense of humour.

“It will always be great to compete against Iga. I was joking when I said I don’t like her. I’ll forgive her when she gives me a Rolex or something,” she added with a smile. A crowd favourite in New York for her creative play and ebullient personality, she claimed her first Tour-level title last year in Birmingham, England, nine years after first appearing in a WTA main draw.

This year, after winning in Madrid and Berlin, she saw Elena Rybakina coming from a set down to end her title hopes at Wimbledon. Jabeur’s march through the Flushing Meadows draw saw her swat aside a red-hot Caroline Garcia in the semi-finals but a rocky start against Swiatek proved too much for Tunisia’s “Minister of Happiness”.

“Wimbledon was tough. This one is going to be tough,” she told reporters. “I’m not someone that going to give up. I am sure I’m going to be in the final again.” The first Arab woman to reach a grand slam final, and first African woman to reach the US Open championship match, Jabeur said her message to the next generation of girls hoping to follow her path was : “Never give up.”