From missing Novak Djokovic & Carlos Alcaraz match-ups to finding motivation in Ons Jabeur: Aziz Dougaz opens up in Exclusive from Australian Open

Aziz Dougaz joined a small group of Tunisians at the 2025 Australian Open, as he became only the second man from his country after Malek Jaziri to play a main draw match at the Grand Slams. Dougaz made the cut by accumulating three wins in the qualifiers.

Dougaz, however, didn't seem content with the achievement, as he went out of contention in the first round, losing 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-3 to Yoshihito Nishioka. He carried the same emotions while exclusively talking to Sportskeeda at Melbourne Park.

During the conversation, the 27-year-old, who turned pro in 2020, regretted missing an opportunity to face 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open last year. Interestingly, he was a match away from taking on Carlos Alcaraz this year.

Taking inspiration from Ons Jabeur, Dougaz wants to leave his mark on the biggest stages in the racket sport and he reflected on his ambitions during the chat.

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Aziz Dougaz Exclusive

Aziz Dougaz (Getty)

Excerpt from the interview....

Sportskeeda: Tough result but you must be proud of what you've done here in Melbourne.

Aziz Dougaz: Yeah, tough to see. Obviously, there are positives but it’s tough to see that right now like I really believed in my chances today. I had plenty of chances to win this match, I was close in the second set, having two break points at 4-4, second set tiebreak. So, I feel like I didn’t play my best but still, I had a good chance of leading more and putting myself in a better position in this match. That’s the first feeling I have right now. Obviously, if you told me before the event, ‘Would you sign to qualify?’, I’d probably say yes so I have also to be humble on that part and grateful for whatever this week brought but tough right now to swallow it.

Sportskeeda: What are your strengths?

Aziz Dougaz: I think it’s pretty clear I’m a good server, really good on my serve +1. I’m creative but clearly, I have to improve a lot on my consistency in terms of focusing fitness-wise, being more consistent in producing a high level of performance but an aggressive player on my serve and from the baseline.

Sportskeeda: Are there any goals that you've set yourself for 2025?

Aziz Dougaz: It’s a tough question. I feel like you always want more, you always want to win more as an athlete. If you don’t have that in you, I think it’s difficult to become a high-level athlete. Definitely, wanted more. Probably, if I won, I would’ve wanted more so I think that’s a good thing. I have to be hungry, have to be always pushing myself. But I’m not putting a limit, I have goals with my coach and my team… short-term goals, long-term goals. But yeah, we try not to put a limit on and work on my mental side of thinking that I can do anything.

Sportskeeda: Obviously, tennis is an expensive sport. So, is money a big motivation for you at present?

Aziz Dougaz: For me no, I never played tennis for money. I always play tennis for the love of the sport. I love tennis so much, I think, I’d be here if there was no money, not that much money at least, for sure. The money part has never been the motivation. Obviously, it’s a critical part of tennis because if you do not have the money, you cannot compete, you cannot have a team, you cannot at least get close to what the other players have, which I always had less than the players I have competed against in terms of budget. Obviously, I’d highly appreciate having more financial support from companies in my country or the Arab region so that I can keep improving my team and try to get close to what the guys I’m competing against have. Because I really trust my potential, I trust what I can do.

Sportskeeda: You have Ons Jabeur as a fellow Tunisian, doing amazing things on the court. Do you take inspiration from her?

Aziz Dougaz: Of course, Ons Jabeur is a big motivation. She’s done amazing things, she’s still doing amazing things. She’s making her comeback right now so I wish her the best and, yeah, she put Tunisia on the tennis map, Malek Jaziri did as well before her, obviously, they’re the examples that Tunisians can have success. I’m proud to have her as a countrywoman.

Sportskeeda: Is there any player you want to face?

Aziz Dougaz: Last year, I was one match away from playing Djokovic. I lost in the last round of qualifiers. The guy [Dino Prizmic] that beat me played… he made the first round. This year, I was one match away from playing Alcaraz I think. So, of course, those are the moments I’m dreaming of playing against these top guys on the biggest courts in the world, in front of the best crowds. Those are the moments I thrive, they would mean everything to me… way more than the money or the fame.

Sportskeeda: How do you wanna inspire the young generation in Tunisia to play tennis?

Aziz Dougaz: First thing, I really wanna be involved in actually helping them because I feel like a lot of people… they just talk, ‘I wanna help on this, on that.’ At the end of the day, they don’t do anything. I think a true champion is a champion who actually behaves like one outside of the court.

So, I really wanna be close to the younger guys and be there for them, show support for them to not make the mistakes I did and facilitate their path.