Ons Jabeur receives National Order of Merit from Tunisia’s president
Ons Jabeur receives National Order of Merit from Tunisia’s president/node/2122771/sport
Ons Jabeur receives National Order of Merit from Tunisia’s president
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Ons Jabeur with Tunisia's President Kais Saied. (Twitter: @Ons_Jabeur)
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President Kais Saied described the player as the ideal “image of Tunisian youth.” (Twitter: @Ons_Jabeur)
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Ons Jabeur was welcomed by the ministers of youth, sports, women, transport and tourism, as well as the Tunisian Tennis Federation President. (Twitter: @Ons_Jabeur)
Ons Jabeur receives National Order of Merit from Tunisia’s president
Wimbledon’s losing finalist was awarded the honor on her return home from London
Updated 15 July 2022
Arab News
TUNISIA: Tunisia’s President Kais Saied on Wednesday awarded tennis superstar Ons Jabeur the country’s National Order of Merit, to honor her recent sporting achievements.
The world number two had returned to home after losing the Wimbledon final to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, and was welcomed at the airport by the ministers of youth, sports, women, transport and tourism, as well as the president of the Tunisian Tennis Federation.
Jabeur had become the first African and Arab player to reach a Grand Slam final. Saied described her as the ideal “image of Tunisian youth and Tunisian women who have overcome challenges.”
Jabeur said at the presidential palace: “I thank the president for receiving me, and this medal will give me more support to deliver better results. We want to give more hope to young people, and to continue with these successes.”
‘Animals in a zoo’: Swiatek backs Gauff call for more privacy
Coco Gauff upset when cameras caught her smashing her racquet in the depths of the stadium on Tuesday after she was beaten in the Australian Open quarter-finals
Updated 4 sec ago
AFP
MELBOURNE: World number two Iga Swiatek on Wednesday backed Coco Gauff’s call for more privacy during tournaments, saying players sometimes feel “like animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop.” Third seed Gauff was upset when cameras caught her smashing her racquet in the depths of the stadium on Tuesday after she was beaten in the Australian Open quarter-finals. The American was trying to find somewhere private to let out her frustrations, rather than doing so on court in front of fans including children. “I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did,” said Gauff. “So maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.” Swiatek, who was also bundled out of the quarter-finals in Melbourne by Elena Rybakina, said back-stage cameras could be too intrusive. “The question is, are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop, you know?” she said. “Okay, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would be nice also to, I don’t know, have your own process and not always be observed. “It would be nice to have some space where you can do that without the whole world watching.” Swiatek was caught up in her own off-court drama earlier in the week when she was denied access to an area in Melbourne Park because she was not wearing her accreditation. It was recorded on camera and the clip did the rounds on social media. “I don’t think it should be like that because we’re tennis players,” she said. “We’re meant to be watched on the court and in the press. That’s our job. It’s not our job to be a meme when you forget your accreditation. “Oh, it’s funny, yeah, for sure. People have something to talk about, but for us I don’t think it’s necessary.” Swiatek’s straight-sets loss to Rybakina denied her a career Grand Slam of all four majors. She has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park remains elusive.
