An emotional Ons Jabeur revealed her plan to donate a portion of her WTA Finals prize money to support Palestinians after securing her first win at the tournament in Cancun on Wednesday.
The Tunisian, a former world No 2, sought redemption for her loss to Marketa Vondrousova in the Wimbledon final with a resounding 6-4, 6-3 straight-set victory. This triumph propelled her back into contention for the semi-finals after suffering defeat to Coco Gauff on Monday.
During the post-match interview, Jabeur fought back tears while addressing the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“I am overjoyed with the win, but I have not been feeling very happy lately. The state of the world does not bring me happiness,” expressed the three-time grand slam finalist in a poignant moment.
“So I feel like…I am sorry,” Jabeur apologized as she paused to regain her composure.
“It is incredibly difficult to witness the daily loss of children and infants. It breaks my heart. Therefore, I have made the decision to donate a portion of my prize money to aid the Palestinians. I cannot find true happiness in this victory alone.”
“This is not a political statement; it is an act of humanity,” she added. “I desire peace in this world. That is all.”
In her quest to secure a place in the top four of the WTA Finals for the first time in her career, the 29-year-old will now face group leader Iga Swiatek in the final group stage match. This opportunity arises after Jabeur’s elimination in the group stage of the 2022 edition.
Four-time grand slam champion Swiatek, who defeated American Coco Gauff, put immense pressure on her opponent, resulting in Gauff committing four consecutive double faults during the second set in Cancun on Wednesday.
The accumulation of errors proved costly for Gauff, as she handed Swiatek the upper hand.
Gauff failed to mount a comeback, allowing Swiatek to secure a 7-5, 6-0 victory as she aims to reclaim the world No 1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka.
This win solidifies Swiatek as the first female player in nearly two decades to achieve 65 or more tour-level wins in consecutive seasons.
Swiatek stands alone with 65 wins in 2023, followed closely by Daniil Medvedev with 64 wins and Carlos Alcaraz with 63 wins.
Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72931262/usa_today_21973134.0.jpg "Stay Updated on Wisconsin Badgers Transfer Portal Movements for 2023-2024 Season")
