Basking in familiar embrace of Dubai, Jabeur sets sights on strong start

Amir Naqvi, Sports Editor

Having etched her name in history as a trailblazer in the sport, Arab tennis star Ons Jabeur expressed her delight in returning to Dubai, a place she considers ‘home’.

The world No.6 arrives in Dubai following a quarter-final loss to Beatriz Haddad Maia in Abu Dhabi and suffering a first round exit at the Qatar Open.

Jabeur enjoys a bye in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and will face a qualifier in her second-round match as the tournament's fifth seed.

"It's always a joy to return here," said Jabeur during the draw for the WTA 1000 event, which is set to get underway on Sunday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium and run until February 24.

Dubai holds a special place in Jabeur's tennis odyssey. Back in 2012, she was a raw talent, fresh out of the unknown, receiving a wildcard to Dubai's qualifiers. Ranked 1169th, she shocked the world by defeating top seed Zheng Jie in straight sets.

Although her journey ended one round later, the seeds of Dubai's allure were sown. As a seasoned contender, she continues to grace the Dubai courts, still chasing the elusive championship title.

"Dubai is my home, and I'm eager to kick off the season with a bang. My top priority, of course, is staying healthy. But beyond that, I'm hungry to rack up more wins and push my boundaries," said the Tunisian, who missed the Middle East swing last year due to surgery.

“Having the opportunity to compete in Dubai and other tournaments across the Arab region has been instrumental in shaping me as a player.”

Jabeur's impact transcends her personal accomplishments. She has played a inspirational role in opening doors for other Arab women in tennis, as exemplified by athletes like Yara Alhogbani, who made history as the first Saudi Arabian woman to join the WTA tour.

Having turned professional at the age of 14, Alhogbani became the first-ever Saudi woman to win a professional tennis event in 2022, defeating Tamara Ermakova to clinch the J5 Isa Town tournament in Bahrain.

Alhogbani played at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open recently after receiving a wild card from the organisers but was beaten in straight sets by Sara Sorribes Tormo in the qualifiers.

“It's a dream of mine to see more women from our region embrace tennis and achieve greatness on the court,” added the highest-ranked Arab tennis player in history.

The 29-year-old Tunisian tennis star enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2022, reaching the finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open.

Her 2023 season was unfortunately disrupted by injuries. After undergoing minor surgery, she encountered further setbacks that impacted her performance throughout the year.

Despite battling injury issues, Jabeur's season included a WTA 500 title in Charleston and a third Grand Slam final in 13 months at Wimbledon, where she faced a tough 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Marketa Vondrousova.

She began 2024 on a challenging note as she grappled with ongoing issues with her right knee, which had already hindered her performance in Abu Dhabi.

Despite some improvement, she acknowledged that the problem is still persisting.

"There's been some progress compared to last week, but it's still a lingering issue," she admitted.

“All I can say is that I'm giving my all to prepare for this tournament, aiming to be fully ready to compete here,” Jabeur added.

Her enduring charisma, both on and off the court, resonates profoundly not just regionally but globally.

This widespread support is widely anticipated to be unmistakably evident when she hits the court in Dubai.

Jabeur’s appearance at the tournament is highly anticipated among a star-studded WTA lineup featuring 17 of the world’s top 20 players, including World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, and 2023 US Open winner Coco Gauff.

Salah Tahlak, Joint COO of Dubai Duty Free and Tournament Director of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. “She is an Arab icon, and her resilience, determination, and the progress she has made over the years are an inspiration to everyone, especially aspiring players in the region. We look forward to witnessing her talent on the court again.”