Ons Jabeur serves up 'ace' of hearts at Wimbledon

A solitary endeavour

Tennis is a lonely sport, with players confined both physically on the court and mentally in their minds.

There are no coach's voices to offer support from the sidelines, nor teammates to alter the trajectory of the ball towards the opponent's racquet. Unlike spectators, players cannot shield themselves from the sun's glare with a hat or a hand.

They have to block out the noise and channel their focus to become one with their opponent — to understand their strengths and next move as well as they would their own.

And yet, as if peering through the spy mirror of an interrogation room (though less ominous, to be sure), the audience closely monitors the players' behaviours, emotions, and even cultural influences unfold during the game.

They observe their interactions with referees, celebrations after scoring points, knee-jerk reactions when they fumble, and even their "break time" etiquette.

Time and focus are crucial in tennis, along with factors like strength, speed, agility, and adaptability. Players confront themselves mentally and emotionally, drawing from previous experiences to navigate new challenges.

Their journey is shaped by pain from the past and a hunger for the future, leading to deep emotional involvement in their performance.

They must reckon, internally, with the result of their efforts, whether good or bad. Often, this manifests externally, too, either in celebration or breakdowns. Fear, vigilance, frustration, exhaustion — they all come into play.

A symbol of resilience

Amidst immense fatigue, however, Jabeur has had to demonstrate an unwavering resolve at the onset of every tournament.

Her matches — Wimbledon included — hold profound meaning, not only to her but to the many fans watching around the world.

She has become a symbol of resilience, her story brimming with emotion and patriotism, evident in how passionately she shares her experiences with the world in interviews.

Within the tennis arena, she possesses a unique ability to command attention, even outshining crowned champions, leaving everyone eager for her every word.​

In a one interview, Jabeur gave the backstory behind her name.

"My grandfather had a dream about this name and shared it with my father," she said. "He had heard many tales about 'Merry Nights in Vienna.'"

'Merry Nights in Vienna' is an old song by Arab singer, Asmahan. The name Ons means merriness or joyfulness. Perhaps a prophecy that would foretell her own bright future.

When Jabeur was three, her mother, who played tennis for leisure, got her a tennis racket and took her to a court. She hasn't looked back since.

But Jabeur's journey was never meant to be confined within the borders of Tunisia or Africa.

Fuelled by her humility, honesty and determination, as well as the support of her parents, she eventually landed at the Duchess Championship in France, where she emerged victorious. Her husband, also a Tunisian athlete, served as a pivotal supporter.

Nevertheless, Jabeur's journey in Europe and other international courts hasn't been free of its disappointments, injuries and defeats.

In 2023, a knee injury hampered her performance in the French Championship, leading to her withdrawal from the Madrid Championship.

In the face of adversity, Jabeur showcased her human and emotional side, fearlessly confronting darkness and stepping back into the light.

A compassionate player

Over the past five years, Jabeur has found a spot in the world's top 100 professional tennis players. She has committed herself to ruthlessly eliminating opponents, utilising a mixture of will, adaptability, and strength – even as more setbacks and injuries mounted.

Despite her fierce competitiveness, she remained appreciative, graceful, and devoted, no matter the result on the scoreboard. Her kindness even extended to her defeated opponents, a rare and valuable sign of sportsmanship.

At the Berlin Championship in 2022, she rushed to help her Swiss opponent, Belinda Bencic, upon realising the severity of Belinda's injury; she ran towards her with a box of ice, and refused to celebrate her own victory.

The Professional Women's Players Association shared a video of Jabeur aiding Belinda, turning her into a global phenomenon with social and cultural impact.

This act of compassion and empathy transcended the narratives of sports rivalries, zeroing in on the true essence of being human.

Tunisian pride

More than ten years earlier, after her victory at the French Open in 2011, young players eagerly approached her at the sports club in Hammam Sousse – a testament to her cross-generational, cross-cultural impact. 

Jabeur has always been proud to represent Tunisia on the world stage, forever remembering her roots.

"I am 100 per cent Tunisian," Jabeur has said, in the past. A proud proclaimation of her Tunisian identity, encompassing her loyalty not only to her country but also to her club where she honed her skills as a young athlete.

Being Tunisian is intricately intertwined with being African and Arab, and this cultural fusion is evident in the way Jabeur carries herself. There's a soulful side to her personality, filled with vibrant energy and captivating clarity.

A decade ago, Jabeur established what she calls her "social bond," connecting her closely with her family, her husband, and those in Tunisia whose talents were awakened by her success, leading to a growth of young tennis players in the country.

In 2022, Jabeur's team proudly raised the slogan "Yalla, Habibi!" in Arabic – meaning "Let's go, love!" – and printed it on sports shirts during her participation in the US Open and the Berlin tennis tournaments.

This connection is not just vital and inspiring for the Arab and African regions but has a global impact. Jabeur's ability to embrace her identity and roots authentically resonates with many.

When she won the semi-final in Berlin, she spontaneously requested – with a shy smile – that Tunisian songs be broadcast for the Tunisian audience present there, giving a nod to her cultural heritage at an international event.

The champion's journey

In 2011 in France, Jabeur embarked on an arduous journey to secure her first girls' singles title at Roland-Garros; when she won, she became the first African or Arab to win a junior major since 1964.

She later added more singles titles to her list, including three major wins: the Birmingham Classic in 2021, a defining victory that solidified her prowess, followed by the Madrid Masters and the Berlin Championship in 2022.

As her career grew, her aspirations turned toward winning a Grand Slam, yet the mental exhaustion and intensity of her ambitions also magnified.

Pursuing a Grand Slam is a challenging endeavour, representing the pinnacle of a player's career. Jabeur's determination will only be fueled further by the force of her loss at Wimbledon.

She faces immense responsibility. Conquering the weight of her own expectations, along with the fatigue from overcoming injuries, is a formidable task. Exhaustion in tennis accumulates and dissipates rapidly, with the mental aspect often transcending the physical.

Jabeur's journey is reminiscent of Australian tennis player Andy Murray, who experienced multiple Grand Slam final losses before securing his first title in 2012.

Like Murray, each Grand Slam defeat only intensifies the pursuit of her dream.

A beacon of hope

For some, Jabeur carries the weight of representing Arab and African women. Her role as a cultural ambassador contiues to grow, and her fans are jut as eager as she is to celebrate her successes.

While there have been many groundbreaking Arab-African representations in international competitions, Jabeur's accomplishments over the past decade – as an athlete, a woman and a cultural ambassador – have secured a special place amongst dreamers across the Arab and African regions.

Yes, Jabeur's recent defeat serves as fuel for what's next. But while her athletic journey and records are significant, it's her heartfelt essence that has imprinted itself on countless fans globally, connecting to her story through videos, interviews, and press briefings.

Certainly, Jabeur's mark on tennis will be felt for generations to come, inspiring her successors to push beyond what is expected of them to achieve greatness – both on and off the court.