Ons Jabeur reaffirms her support for WTA moving to Saudi Arabia claiming it’s ‘not about money’ and giving chances to women

Ons Jabeur has been one of the rare women athletes who support WTA tour moving to Saudi Arabia.

Ons Jabeur reaffirms her support for WTA moving to Saudi Arabia claiming it’s ‘not about money’ and giving chances to women

Ons Jabeur (Image credits: WTA)

Ons Jabeur who has been pretty vocal about moving the WTA tour to Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed her support while denying the allegations that she wants it for money. Jabeur was one of the rare women athletes on the WTA tour who supported WTA’s alleged move to Saudi Arabia for the WTA Finals. Jabeur had said that she was excited about it and wanted it to happen so that the scenario in the Middle East changes. 

Ons Jabeur who herself battled multiple odds on her way to the top does not want the problem to persist with the coming generation of women athletes and hence wants WTA to look towards Saudi Arabia. The Tunisian has also denied the allegations about her advocating the move due to monetary benefits. 

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Hopefully (the WTA goes there). Of course, I’m one of the players that will push to go there. I feel this country deserves a chance to have sports events; they started of course with football and now I feel like tennis could be there. It’s not about the money, for me it’s about giving a chance to younger women, or any women to practice sports and discover amazing things.
Ons Jabeur said in an interview with The National.

Ons Jabeur will play an exhibition match in Riyadh against Aryna Sabalenka as part of the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup before the start of the new season. The event will also see Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz going head-to-head against each other.

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Ons Jabeur focused on doing better at the WTA Finals

Although Ons Jabeur had a hot and cold season on her way to the WTA Finals, for which she could earn a qualification only three weeks before the start of the tournament, the Tunisian is confident about a better show. Jabeur has earned a second consecutive qualification for the year-end tournament. In 2022, she could survive only till the group stage.

Ons Jabeur
Ons Jabeur (Image via Sky Sports)

Now, as she enters one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments with plenty of experience behind her, Jabeur is expecting a better show. The Tunisian has been put in the same group as former World No.1 Iga Swiatek and reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff. Jabeur will open her campaign against Gauff on Monday. Jabeur talked about her qualification and how it was a bit unexpected for her. 

I’m just happy because this season it was unexpected that I qualified. It was a little bit stressful at the end but I don’t think it was as stressful as the year that I didn’t qualify, 2021. I’m pretty excited and hopefully, I have much more experience than the last time I made it.
Jabeur said to The National.

Now, it is to be seen if Jabuer can reach the semifinals considering both Gauff and Swiatek have played some really good tennis this year. While Gauff won her maiden WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati followed by her maiden Grand Slam title, Swiatek has regained her lost momentum, winning the China Open.

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