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  • 11 months ago
Tunisian Malek Jaziri recalls his best moments at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Open Championships over the years as he retires from the sport.
Transcript
00:00Like, this city and this tournament must have meant a lot to you during your career.
00:05Yeah, Dubai is a special place for me.
00:10I have a lot of good memories, that's why I wanted to finish here in Dubai.
00:15I would like to thank the tournament, Dubai Duty Free,
00:18and the selector for the opportunity to play here,
00:21for my last competition in the ATP.
00:27A lot of emotions, a lot of...
00:33All my memories for the last 12 years,
00:36you know, they come back in three seconds.
00:39All the matches I played here,
00:42I played most of the number one in the world,
00:45most of the number one years of the tournament,
00:47so I have a flashback, like, wow.
00:50I come back and when you know that it's going to be your last tournament,
00:55you know, it's very special.
00:59You know, I cannot, like, describe it,
01:02because it's not only emotional, it's something...
01:08You don't know what's next, you know, actually.
01:10I mean, after...
01:12So...
01:15Not easy, you know, like, really, but at the same time, it's good,
01:18because, like, to finish in a great tournament here,
01:21like, I always wanted to finish here.
01:24It means a lot to me, it means a lot to a lot of people,
01:28because Dubai gave me a lot, you know,
01:30not only for this year, for many years, you know, I've been here,
01:34playing a lot of Tunisian fans, a lot of Arab world,
01:37so I'm happy that I finished here, and...
01:43Insha'Allah, the next will be much better, insha'Allah.
01:46Yeah.
01:48Come down and wish them all the best for your future,
01:50and you have many memorable moments,
01:52you said you played a lot of number ones, a lot of play-matches,
01:55which is the best game that you have played here,
01:59that's in your esteem?
02:01Which is your best, or most memorable?
02:04For sure, when I made 2018, I mean, semifinal here,
02:07so obviously, it will be my...
02:12One of my best tournament I played here in Dubai,
02:15so I made part of it before as well,
02:18but that year, I played with Dimitrov, I did 60 passes,
02:20so I had a very good tournament.
02:24For sure, I don't remember very well the matches against Dubai,
02:27you know, so...
02:29The full house you played, it's amazing.
02:31Roger as well, the year I took the set, you know,
02:34it's special as well, so...
02:37This tournament has been very, very special for me, you know,
02:41and before they made the draw,
02:42actually, I'm surprised I don't play City as well this year,
02:45or number one.
02:47Exactly.
02:48The year I wanted to play City, I really wanted to play.
02:50No, it doesn't count, you know.
02:55So...
02:58All good, so I'm very thankful for everything.
03:01Thank you for my family, for the fans,
03:04thank you for you, you guys,
03:08all the coaches that have been with them
03:12last few years, for everyone who helped me
03:14from the beginning of my career,
03:17I'm very, very thankful for everyone.
03:20Let's see what's next.
03:22What was said by Roger Pedro after that match,
03:26when you took the first set?
03:31Do you remember what he said to you?
03:33No, no, really I don't remember very much.
03:35I don't remember that.
03:37It's been ten years ago, so...
03:42No, but I was great match that match,
03:44a lot of emotion.
03:46Like I was saying before that,
03:50I will say it now, I'm like, I'm done,
03:52so I'll say it.
03:53That match, I didn't play for four months,
03:55and I played Roger, so...
03:57I just come back from injury,
03:59and that match was...
04:02I had a worker that year here, so...
04:07It was crazy, because I...
04:09I was hoping to have the same today,
04:11but it was a little tougher, you know.
04:14With age, with everything,
04:16so it's a little bit tougher, but...
04:18With all the moments, really,
04:20every moment I played in Dubai
04:22was special for me, you know.
04:25All the matches, you know,
04:27no exception, all the matches.
04:29I want to do really much better today,
04:31but that's how it ends.
04:35And one more time, thank you, Dubai.
04:37Thank you to the Director of Tournaments,
04:40for his confidence for the last few years.
04:43And...
04:46Thanks to my parents, you know,
04:48who gave me the opportunity
04:51to do my dream,
04:54to do the things that I really want to do.
04:59It's not easy, you know, in the Arab world,
05:01how do you make a decision, you know,
05:03to stop studying and go to take Pro,
05:05especially when no one in Tunisia did it before me,
05:08so you don't know the way where you're going, so...
05:11But...
05:14I made a lot of good things, you know.
05:20My first thing that came back to my mind
05:22when I was a kid, you know,
05:24and what I achieved,
05:27I did more things than what I expected, really.
05:30I'll be honest.
05:32I want to be top 100.
05:34I don't have anyone before me
05:36to say I want to be top 20, top 10, or number 1,
05:39but I dream to be top 100. I made it.
05:41I made it top 50, so...
05:45Really, I don't have regrets, you know.
05:47I did everything by myself.
05:49I take, like, my bag here,
05:51and I was traveling, I did the circuit, so...
05:55That's it, you know, so all good.
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