Arab star Ons Jabeur knocked out of Wimbledon

Ons Jabeur lost in straight sets to Kateřina Siniaková.
Updated 05 July 2018
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Arab star Ons Jabeur knocked out of Wimbledon

Ons Jabeur's Wimbledon run is over after she was knocked out by Katerina Siniakova.
The Tunisian player won the first set 7-5 against the world No. 42 and hopes were high that she could reach the third round of a slam for the second time in her career. But she lost the second set 6-4 and was then beaten 9-7 in the decider in a match that lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours.

 

"A very painful loss today," tweeted Jabeur. "I really gave it all but that’s tennis will keep working hard."

The defeat will come as a blow to Jabeur who had gone into the second-round tie on the back of a come-from-behind win over Viktorija Golubic in round one. The win over the Swiss had seen Jabeur become the first Arab woman to win a singles match at Wimbledon since her compatriot Selima Sfar in 2005.

Of some conslation to Jabeur, 23, will be the fact she earned £108,000 ($142,000) in prize money for reaching the second round of Wimbledon and she should see her world ranking of 130 come down on the back of the ranking points she will have picked up. Jabeur was handed a wild-card entry into Wimbledon on the back of winning an ITF $100,000 title in Manchester earlier this month without dropping a set. 

 


Karim Benzema joins Al-Hilal

Updated 03 February 2026
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Karim Benzema joins Al-Hilal

RIYADH: Karim Benzema has joined Al-Hilal after leaving Al-Ittihad, the Riyadh club announced early Tuesday.

The former French international was introduced with a post on social media, “Karim Benzema is officially Hilali.”

The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, who scored eight goals in 14 league matches this season, joined on a free transfer, his new club added.

Though this chapter comes to an end “respect and gratitude will always remain,” the Frenchman said.

“Thank you to the club, the staff, my teammates, and especially the fans for the welcome, the love, and the energy you gave me every day,” Benzema wrote on social media.

“This journey gave me a lot, both personally and professionally. I leave with my head held high, proud to have worn these colors and of everything we shared.”

Benzema moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023 after 14 seasons with Real Madrid. Last season he scored 21 goals as Al-Ittihad won the league.
This season Al-Ittihad trail leaders Al-Hilal by 12 points. 

— with input from Reuters