Ons Jabeur celebrates defeating Daria Kasatkina in the Birmingham Classic final at Edgbaston Priory Club in England on Sunday, June 20.
Ons Jabeur celebrates defeating Daria Kasatkina in the Birmingham Classic final at Edgbaston Priory Club in England on Sunday, June 20.
Ons Jabeur with the Maud Watson Trophy.
Ons Jabeur with the Maud Watson Trophy.
World No 24 Ons Jabeur hopes her winning the Birmingham Classic trophy will inspire other Arab players.
World No 24 Ons Jabeur hopes her winning the Birmingham Classic trophy will inspire other Arab players.
Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates with her coach Issam Jellali.
Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates with her coach Issam Jellali.
Ons Jabeur celebrates after winning match point against Daria Kasatkina.
Ons Jabeur celebrates after winning match point against Daria Kasatkina.
Ons Jabeur in action against Daria Kasatkina.
Ons Jabeur in action against Daria Kasatkina.
Ons Jabeur plays a backhand during her victory over Daria Kasatkina. Getty
Ons Jabeur plays a backhand during her victory over Daria Kasatkina. Getty
Daria Kasatkina congratulates Ons Jabeur.
Daria Kasatkina congratulates Ons Jabeur.
Ons Jabeur plays a shot against Daria Kasatkina.
Ons Jabeur plays a shot against Daria Kasatkina.
Ons Jabeur during the final in Birmingham. Getty
Ons Jabeur during the final in Birmingham. Getty
Daria Kasatkina during her defeat to Ons Jabeur.
Daria Kasatkina during her defeat to Ons Jabeur.
Ons Jabeur during her 7-5, 6-4 win over Daria Kasatkina.
Ons Jabeur during her 7-5, 6-4 win over Daria Kasatkina.

Sport

Olympics

Proud Tunisian Ons Jabeur going for gold at Tokyo Olympics

Arab trailblazer faces Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro in first round at Ariake Tennis Park

The National

July 23, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Tunisian trailblazer Ons Jabeur starts her Olympic Games campaign hoping to build on what has already been a historic season on the tennis court.

Jabeur faces Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain in her opening match at Ariake Tennis Park, with Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Pliskova a potential second-round opponent.

Jabeur just enjoyed a superb tournament at Wimbledon where she defeated three successive Grand Slam champions — in Venus Williams, Garbine Muguruza and Iga Swiatek — to become the first Arab woman, and first Tunisian player, to reach the last-eight at the All England Club.

Flag bearer Yousuf Almatrooshi of the United Arab Emirates leads his contingent during the athletes' parade at the opening ceremony.
Flag bearer Yousuf Almatrooshi of the United Arab Emirates leads his contingent during the athletes' parade at the opening ceremony.
Flag bearer Yousuf Almatrooshi of Team United Arab Emirates leads the team out during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearer Yousuf Almatrooshi of Team United Arab Emirates leads the team out during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Members of the United Arab Emirates Team are seen during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Members of the United Arab Emirates Team are seen during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearer Yousuf Almatrooshi of Team United Arab Emirates during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearer Yousuf Almatrooshi of Team United Arab Emirates during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearers Hannah Mills and Mohamed Sbihi of Team Great Britain lead their team out during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearers Hannah Mills and Mohamed Sbihi of Team Great Britain lead their team out during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Italy's delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Italy's delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearers Harmanpreet Singh and Mary Kom Hmangte of India lead their contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony.
Flag bearers Harmanpreet Singh and Mary Kom Hmangte of India lead their contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony.
Flag bearers Hedaya Wahba and Alaaeldin Abouelkassem of Team Egypt during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearers Hedaya Wahba and Alaaeldin Abouelkassem of Team Egypt during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearers Cate Campbell and Patty Mills of Team Australia lead their team during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearers Cate Campbell and Patty Mills of Team Australia lead their team during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearers Anna Korakaki and Eleftherios Petrounias of Team Greece lead their team in during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearers Anna Korakaki and Eleftherios Petrounias of Team Greece lead their team in during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearers Yusra Mardini and Tachlowini Gabriyesos of the Refugee Olympic Team lead their team out during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Flag bearers Yusra Mardini and Tachlowini Gabriyesos of the Refugee Olympic Team lead their team out during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Performers are seen during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Performers are seen during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach and Japan's Emperor Naruhito wave during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach and Japan's Emperor Naruhito wave during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The Japanese flag is raised as the national anthem is sung during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The Japanese flag is raised as the national anthem is sung during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Performers are seen during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Performers are seen during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Performers in action during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Performers in action during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
A performer is seen acting during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
A performer is seen acting during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony.
Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony.
Fireworks illuminate over the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Fireworks illuminate over the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Fireworks illuminate over the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Fireworks illuminate over the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Members of staff hold signage inside the stadium before the opening ceremony.
Members of staff hold signage inside the stadium before the opening ceremony.
Kabuki actor Nakamura Kankuro lights an Olympic cauldron during the arrival ceremony for the Olympic torch in Tokyo, Japan.
Kabuki actor Nakamura Kankuro lights an Olympic cauldron during the arrival ceremony for the Olympic torch in Tokyo, Japan.
An Olympic flame torch.
An Olympic flame torch.
The Blue Impulse Japan Air Self-Defence Force aerobatic display team fly over the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building during the arrival ceremony for the Olympic torch.
The Blue Impulse Japan Air Self-Defence Force aerobatic display team fly over the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building during the arrival ceremony for the Olympic torch.
People watch a performance by Blue Impulse.
People watch a performance by Blue Impulse.
People take photos of the Japan air force aerobatic squadron Blue Impulse.
People take photos of the Japan air force aerobatic squadron Blue Impulse.
A general view outside the stadium as fireworks are let off during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
A general view outside the stadium as fireworks are let off during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Her run was ended by Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals but the 26-year-old had already enjoyed a breakthrough season that saw her win her first WTA Tour title at the Birmingham Classic before Wimbledon — another historic milestone as the first Arab woman to win a top-tier tournament.

Jabeur broke into the top 50 last year following her run to the last eight of the Australian Open, where she became the first Arab woman to reach the quarter-finals of a major in the Open era.

She will arrive in Japan a much improved player from the one who suffered first-round exits in 2012 and 2016.

"I've been preparing for the Olympic Games since Roland Garros [in June]," Jabeur, ranked a career- high 23rd, told AFP from her training base in Tunis.

“I have to stay focused, especially since I know lots of Tunisians expect the best from me at the Games against the best players, in matches that will be very difficult.

“I'm ready for this challenge. The gold medal in Tokyo is my dream. What I am most proud of is representing Tunisia.

“The Grand Slams are important, but the Olympics are something special, and I say to Tunisians that I'm going to give everything on the court for you.

My dream since childhood is to win titles in the big competitions, and I know very well that I'm not far off
Ons Jabeur

“My position in the tennis world is not the same as other players because I'm representing Tunisia, Arabs and Africa at the same time, and it's something of which I'm very proud.

“There are lots of players who come from France, Australia, the United States, and I'm proud to represent an entire nation on my own.”

And after a season of real progress, Jabeur still has plenty goals still to achieve. “My dream since childhood is to win titles in the big competitions, and I know very well that I'm not far off,” said Jabeur, whose husband Karim Kamoun is also her fitness trainer.

“I always say nothing is impossible, you have to work, rely on yourself and have confidence in your abilities.

“During my career, plenty have doubted my ability to ever reach this level, but my belief in myself and my work have allowed me to move forward.”

Jabeur has just auctioned off one of her tennis racquets from her Wimbledon campaign to raise funds to help her native Tunisia in the fight against Covid-19.

“It was my duty to help my country when it needs it. We were able to collect 75,000 dinars [around $27,000] to buy equipment for the hospitals that lack it,” she said.

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From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

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