If there’s one word that epitomises Ons Jabeur’s journey from being a standout Grand Slam-winning junior at 16 to becoming a first-time WTA titlist at 26, it would have to be ‘patience’.
Granted, a great deal of hard work, perseverance, self-belief and ambition was involved throughout the Tunisian’s career, but ask any elite athlete and they’ll tell you that patience is often the toughest commodity to acquire in professional sport.
If you win, you want to win more, immediately, especially if you’ve tasted success from a young age. When you get injured, you want to get back on court as soon as possible. When you’re trying to add more to your game, you want to see those improvements reflected right away in your performances.
In a sport like tennis that never stops for nearly 11 months a year, and where every week there is a new tournament, and a new rankings list released; cultivating the patience necessary to survive it all can be a laborious task.
For Jabeur, patience has become her secret weapon.
On Sunday in Birmingham, she lifted her maiden WTA trophy to become the first Arab woman in history to achieve that feat.
Jabeur had lost her previous two WTA finals, in Moscow in 2018 and in Charleston earlier this year.
In Birmingham, she overcame the same player who defeated her in that decider in Russia three years ago – Daria Kasatkina, a relentless fighter with a knack for pulling off comeback victories over Jabeur.
"Playing against Dasha, I know she's going to be that player who gets every ball," Jabeur told The National following her title triumph.
“With another player I could have finished the shot in like three shots, but with her I have to add like five or six shots. And I think that’s what made the difference, is that I was so patient.
“I was like, ‘OK, you want to play 15 shots I’m here, you want to play 20 shots, I’m here’.”
This title run by Jabeur felt like a long time coming and her emotional reaction on court was the culmination of 10 years of searching for ways to realise her full potential; 10 years of getting knocked down and getting up again [yes, like the cliché song]; 10 years of reconciling her much-touted talent with the hard work needed to utilise it to achieve results.
If ever the Arab world needed a coming of age success story for inspiration, then we should look no further than Jabeur. She saw opportunity when others only saw limitations. She refused to let where she came from dictate where she can go. She takes pride in her role as an Arab pioneer, but her goals are far greater than any regional success.
She chose to hire an all-Tunisian team, believing her own country had everything she needed to make it to the next level. She is now No 24 in the world, No 14 in the 2021 Race to Shenzhen and is the joint match-wins leader on tour this season alongside world No 1 Ashleigh Barty.
“The question that everybody asks me is that I’m the only Arab woman, I’m making history, etc … I know that’s something big, but let’s face it, there aren’t that many Arab players and there weren’t many Arab players before me, so it’s totally normal that this is history,” explained Jabeur, who is the highest-ranked Arab woman in tennis history, and the first to make a Grand Slam quarter-final.
“So I’m telling them what I’m trying to do is make a point here and saying that it’s not impossible, you guys can do it.”
A day after winning singles in Birmingham, and making the final in doubles, Jabeur, her coach Issam Jellali, and her husband/fitness coach Karim Kamoun, drove to Eastbourne, where she is defending semi-final points from 2019 (the event was cancelled last year).
The North African had made a strong start to 2020 by reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open before the tour stopped a month later due to the pandemic. Jabeur was not discouraged and kept up her form when the circuit restarted five months later. She struggled with bubble fatigue and the revised ranking system did not properly reflect the progress she had made, but she stayed the course.
After checking a new milestone off of her bucket list by winning her first title in Birmingham, she assures she remains as hungry as ever.
“I am someone that builds up small steps. For me, the small step is to win a WTA title, I have bigger steps to win a Grand Slam, I have another big step to be No 1,” she says.
“So I know everything takes time, I know with me, with my game, I have to be patient, I have to be always working hard and wait and never give up with the results.
“I had so many disappointments that happened during my career but the good thing and the thing that I‘m proud of is that I didn’t give up and I didn’t stop believing in myself. I think a human being is always hungry to win more and is never satisfied.
"So you always have to find the way to come up with that speech, to talk to yourself and be more hungry to win.”
There is defiance in Jabeur’s approach to her career, because she learnt the hard way that she had to take matters into her own hands and become the primary decision-maker.
She says she was criticised for hiring a Tunisian coach that didn’t necessarily have experience on tour, and faced lots of scepticism when she started working with her husband. But she stuck to her guns and with time, focused her energy on trusting her own instincts and disregarding the outside noise.
"I tried to go in that direction to prove people wrong, but I think that's the really bad direction to go because I know the work I'm doing with my team and the work they're doing with me is good enough to make me go to the top," she told WTA Insider on Sunday.
Jabeur’s work ethic came into question early on her career – a misconception she believes stemmed from being labelled a “talented player”. She has a unique game that mixes power with delicate touch. She is No 4 on the aces leaderboard this year, but has won many matches by torturing her opponents with deft drop shots.
Being seen as “just gifted” is something Jabeur took years to adjust to and she is finally in a place where she has complete faith in her work process and feels like she has nothing to prove to anyone but herself.
“I'm not born talented. I worked hard to be talented. That's what most people don't understand. They think I just picked up a racquet and then I knew how to make a forehand and backhand, which is not the case. To be talented, I played a lot of sports before. I played handball, football, a lot of things. That's how I developed the touch and everything,” she said.
“So for me, being a ‘talent’ was not helpful during a period of my career. I've been going through a lot of things, but I was patient because I knew that I'm a player who takes my time.
“I'm not a 19-year-old winning a Grand Slam right away or something. I take my time and I'm really more and more patient over the years, which helped me a lot, not to focus on the negative and focus more on the positive.”
Looking ahead to Wimbledon, Jabeur is sticking to the plan, taking things step by step and relying on the main thing that has kept her going this far: Patience.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Read more about the coronavirus
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
A4 35 TFSI
Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic
Power: 150bhp
Torque: 270Nm
Price: Dh150,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
A4 S4 TDI
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 350bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh165,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
The years Ramadan fell in May
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
The five pillars of Islam
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
More coverage from the Future Forum
More on animal trafficking
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20WonderTree%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20April%202016%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Waqas%20and%20Muhammad%20Usman%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karachi%2C%20Pakistan%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%2C%20and%20Delaware%2C%20US%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Special%20education%2C%20education%20technology%2C%20assistive%20technology%2C%20augmented%20reality%3Cbr%3EN%3Cstrong%3Eumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGrowth%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Grants%20from%20the%20Lego%20Foundation%2C%20UAE's%20Anjal%20Z%2C%20Unicef%2C%20Pakistan's%20Ignite%20National%20Technology%20Fund%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
PRIMERA LIGA FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (3pm)
Alaves v Real Madrid (6.15pm)
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (8.30pm)
Girona v Barcelona (10.45pm)
Sunday
Espanyol v Deportivo la Coruna (2pm)
Getafe v Villarreal (6.15pm)
Eibar v Celta Vigo (8.30pm)
Las Palmas v Leganes (8.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Valencia (10.45pm)
Monday
Real Betis v Levante (11.pm)
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
Schedule
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENovember%2013-14%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20World%20Youth%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Championship%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENovember%2015-16%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbu%20Dhabi%20World%20Masters%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Championship%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENovember%2017-19%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20World%20Professional%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Championship%20followed%20by%20the%20Abu%20Dhabi%20World%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Awards%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
