Jabeur, 30, has dropped right down to thirty ninth on the planet rankings after damage issues final yr prevented her from competing on the US Open and Paris Olympics.
She ended her 2024 season in September, returning to motion at first of this yr and recommended the lengthy spell away had precipitated her bronchial asthma issues to resurface.
“Having taken off quite a bit [of time] did not assist. I believe it provoked it much more,” she stated.
“I believe I must discover a strategy to really feel higher the subsequent two days, which I’m hoping to do as a result of this began form of two days or three days in the past. I really feel prefer it bought worse for some purpose.”
Jabeur will face American eighth seed Emma Navarro, who beat China’s Wang Xiyu 6-3 3-6 6-4, within the subsequent spherical.
“I am actually simply taking it one minute at a time and see how it will go, however undoubtedly I am doing the whole lot that I can to be prepared,” stated Jabeur.
“I do not need to be grasping simply after getting back from an damage. Generally I get offended as a result of I really feel like I am getting again there, however each time one thing occurs.”
In the meantime, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina beat 17-year-old American wildcard Iva Jovic 6-0 6-3 to seal her fiftieth Grand Slam match win.
Jovic was the youngest girl within the second spherical of the draw however struggled in opposition to 2023 Australian Open finalist Rybakina, who’s ranked 184 locations above Jovic.
The Kazakh will face Ukrainian thirty second seed Dayana Yastremska, who reached the semi-finals final yr as a qualifier, within the third spherical.
Former Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins overcame a second-set scare to beat Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava 7-6 (4) 4-6 6-2.
The American tenth seed was booed off courtroom by the raucous Melbourne crowd as she blew them kisses and cupped her ears.
Collins, 31, will face compatriot Madison Keys, who beat Romania’s Gabriela Ruse 7-6 (7-1) 2-6 7-5, within the subsequent spherical.
German fortunate loser Eva Lys booked her place within the third spherical after beating France’s Varvara Gracheva 6-2 3-6 6-4.
The 23-year-old, ranked 128 on the planet, thought she was going residence after dropping within the qualifying part final week however was known as up when thirteenth seed Anna Kalinskaya withdrew within the first spherical and has now received each of her matches in Melbourne.
Ukrainian twenty eighth seed Elina Svitolina cruised previous American Caroline Dolehide 6-1 6-4 and will face Italian fourth seed Jasmine Paolini within the subsequent spherical.