Ons Jabeur, the tennis player Tunisia treasures to bits

• Ons Jabeur tennis history puts Africa on the global map
• The Tunisian is one of two African players privileged to play a Grand Slam tournament
• Jabeur is a professional tennis player from Tunisia competing on the WTA tour since 2011

Ons Jabeur tennis history puts Africa on the global map. The Tunisian is one of two African players privileged to play in a Grand Slam tournament.

Together with Angela Oukutoyi from Kenya, they make a formidable women’s doubles team. Jabeur is a professional tennis player from Tunisia competing on the WTA tour since 2011. As of January 2023, her world ranking stands at No. 30.

Jabeur made several notable achievements throughout her career, including becoming the first Arab woman to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament at the 2020 Australian Open.

She became the first Tunisian woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament at the 2019 French Open. Besides, she also reached several WTA finals and has won two WTA titles. One in 2017 at the Tournoi de Québec and the other in 2019 at the Open de Limoges.

Ons Jabeur tennis history. Photo/Sky Sports

WHEN DID ONS JABEUR START PLAYING TENNIS?

Ons Jabeur tennis history dates back to her formative years as a three-year-old. But she started playing tennis competitively when she was eight.  Her stint on the ITF junior circuit came with several victories as she won several tournaments before turning professional in 2011.

Many nicknamed her ‘Roger Federer’ due to her resemblance of play to that of the retired Swiss tennis player. Jabeur played tennis differently than most of her peers.  The Tunisian is more of an on-court artist, employing angles and spin to out-craft her opponents.

This is opposed to some players using sheer strength and massive groundstrokes. Her slice, which she honed in her early years to the admiration of many who watched her play, is one of her most potent weapons. That tactic earned her the ‘Roger Federer’ moniker.

DID ONS JABEUR WIN A GRAND SLAM?

Ons Jabeur tennis history, unfortunately, doesn’t include details of her winning a Grand Slam yet. Her zeal to get her first slam at the 2023 Australian Open ended in a disappointing second-round defeat.

Marketa Vondrousova, a past finalist at the French Open, eliminated an emotional Jabeur from the Australian Open. Jabeur lost her match at Rod Laver Arena by 6-1 5-7 6-1.

The Tunisian, who reached the finals of the 2017 US Open and Wimbledon, had high expectations for herself competing. Still, she struggled in her first-round encounter and lost to the talented Czech Vondrousova.

However, she has made several notable achievements throughout her career. She is the first African tennis player to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament at the 2020 Australian Open.

Further, she made history by reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament at the 2019 French Open. She also reached the 3rd round of the US Open in 2020 and 2021 and the 3rd round of Wimbledon 2021. Jabeur has also reached several WTA finals and has won two WTA titles, one in 2017 at the Tournoi de Québec and the other in 2019 at the Open de Limoges.

WHERE DOES JABEUR COME FROM?

Ons Jabeur tennis history. Photo/Sky Sports

Jabeur is from Tunisia, a country located in North Africa. She was born in the city of Oueslatia in Tunisia on May 10, 1994.  It is here that Ons Jabeur history rolled out.

Jabeur is undoubtedly a national favourite back home, given the amount of history she claims. Her sizable fan base began growing when she captured a junior title at Roland Garros in 2011. But the summer’s record-breaking performance at the All England Club in London really made her name famous.

Jabeur was the first Tunisian to advance to the final, and Post Tunisie produced a stamp honouring her accomplishment. The image shows the tennis star fist-pumping while holding the flag in one hand. The text beneath the commemorative stamp summarises Jabeur’s life and career to date, stressing her innovative work.

Besides tennis, she is an ardent football lover. Her two favourite football clubs to follow are Real Madrid CF of Spain and Étoile Sportive du Sahel, a team from Sousse from her local neighbourhood in Tunisia.

Jabeur has already competed in three Olympiads despite being only 27. However, she participated in the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore when she was 15 years old, which marked the beginning of her Olympic career.