In 2011, she became the first Arab to ever win a girls’ singles Grand Slam title. As it a turned out, the win was just the beginning of a series of ‘firsts’ for Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur.
A few weeks ago, she became the first Arab woman to snag a WTA singles trophy. Yesterday, the star beat out Venus Williams to reach the third round of Wimbledon for the first time. Again, the first Arab woman to do so.
Of course, it’s a cause for celebration for everyone in the region. For the 26-year-old however, it comes with added pressure. “I think I have different pressure than other players since we don’t have a lot of Tunisian or a lot of Arab players. I’m playing not just for me, but I’m playing for the whole continent,” she once said in an interview.
But despite not having a blueprint to follow, Jabeur has made consistent strides in her career. Now ranking 24th in the world, she remains the highest-ranked Arab woman in Tennis history. During the Australia Open 2020, she became the first Arab woman to make it to a Grand Slam quarter final.
As it stands, she’s also tied in first place for most match wins for the season. And her accomplishments have only led her to persevere further.
“There were not a lot of players before. So, I hope I can make history by inspiring other people behind me, Tunisians or Arabs, that would be great. That would be the best thing I can do. I hope I can inspire more and more generations,” she explained in a Wimbeldeon interview.
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