ABU DHABI: Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur on Saturday threw her support behind the potential staging of the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, urging critics to be “more informed” on the Kingdom’s interest in the sport.
Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam finalist and former world number two, said she was impressed by the response of Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, to criticism from Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert of the WTA’s possible deal with the Kingdom.
Princess Reema said the two tennis legends based their stance on “outdated stereotypes,” adding that, “failing to acknowledge the great progress women have made in Saudi Arabia denigrates our remarkable journey.”
“Princess Reema’s answer was unbelievable. I think classy, elegant, and every player was impressed with the way she addressed Martina’s and Chris’ letter,” Jabeur told AFP in Abu Dhabi.
“We’re obviously looking forward to go there, I’m personally looking forward to go there.”
The WTA Finals tournament has been in search for a stable home for the past three years.
A 10-year historic deal with the city of Shenzhen resulted in only one staging of the event, in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the reported disappearance of Peng Shuai, led the women’s tour to take its crown jewel elsewhere.
Navratilova, 67, and Evert, 69, each won 18 Grand Slam singles titles between 1974 and 1991.
Their opinion article in The Washington Post last month was headlined: “We did not help build women’s tennis for it to be exploited by Saudi Arabia.”
The strongest bid on the table at the moment is believed to come from the Saudis, and an announcement that the WTA Finals will be heading to Riyadh seems imminent.
“It’s amazing to go there and inspire, not just women, men too,” said Tunisian Jabeur.
“I think it is very important to do that. Hopefully if the WTA Finals goes there, I will be one of the supportive players, to try, not just to go play matches there, but also to do a campaign. To go there and do a lot more than just playing tennis.”
Jabeur, who recently signed a sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund-owned fitness and wellness brand Kayanee, said there are many misconceptions about the progress being made in the Kingdom.
“I feel like people should be more informed about what’s happening in Saudi; more informed about how the country is getting better and better and I feel like it’s important not to just listen to one side; in anything to be honest with you, not just in this matter, but to anything,” said the sixth-ranked Jabeur.
The 29-year-old faced Aryna Sabalenka in an exhibition match in Riyadh in December, with Novak Djokovic squaring off with Carlos Alcaraz at the same event the following day.
Beyond the exhibition matches, Saudi Arabia has made several moves in tennis, staging the NextGen ATP Finals in Jeddah in December, as part of a five-year deal, and appointing Rafael Nadal as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation.
“I honestly feel so safe there and felt amazing. I wish to share this experience with other players,” added Jabeur.
Jabeur was speaking ahead of her participation in the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a WTA 500 tournament which kicks off on Monday February 5.
The No.2 seed will begin her campaign against wildcard Emma Raducanu or Czech Marie Bouzkova and is slated to play doubles alongside former world number one Naomi Osaka.
Ons Jabeur backs Saudi Arabia after criticism from tennis greats
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Ons Jabeur backs Saudi Arabia after criticism from tennis greats
- Tunisian said she was impressed by the response of ambassador Princess Reema bint Bandar
World No. 1 duo Coello, Tapia headline historic padel exhibition in Abu Dhabi
- Stars play against each other in UAE’s capital
ABU DHABI: The world’s top-ranked padel players delivered a memorable showcase in the UAE’s capital on Wednesday as “The Ultimate Padel Match” lit up Space42 Arena at Al-Raha Beach.
Arturo Coello — the youngest player in history to reach the FIP (International Padel Federation) world No. 1 ranking — and Agustin Tapia, the joint world No. 1 renowned for his creative and attacking style, headlined a rare one-night exhibition that split the sport’s most dominant partnership.
Played outside the official professional tour calendar, the event saw Coello join forces with Spain’s Jorge “Coki” Nieto, the current FIP world No. 7 and winner of the 2024 Premier Padel Finals, while Tapia paired with Argentine World Champion Federico Chingotto, the FIP world No. 3 recognized for his exceptional defensive court coverage.
In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Tapia and Chingotto claimed a 7–6, 2–6, 6–3 victory in a high-quality contest that marked a first-of-its-kind showcase for fans in Abu Dhabi.
For Coello, the return to the capital of the UAE was as meaningful off the court as it was on it.
He said: “It’s our second time here, and it’s a real pleasure to play here and be in this city. Padel is growing a lot in Abu Dhabi, and today you could really feel how much people enjoyed the match. It’s an amazing event, and I hope people continue to enjoy and discover this sport.”
The Spaniard also underlined the importance of exhibition matches in accelerating the sport’s development in emerging markets.
“Padel is still quite new here, but when people can see the level we play at, it helps them connect with the game,” he said. “It’s a great moment for fans to start practicing and enjoying padel.”
Tapia echoed those sentiments, pointing to the role of such events in strengthening the local padel community.
He said: “I’m really happy to be back in Abu Dhabi. Padel is growing a lot in the city and across the country, and exhibition matches like this help bring the community together and contribute to that growth.”
Looking ahead, the Argentine player expressed hope of returning to compete again in the capital.
He said he “would love to come back,” before adding that “hopefully Abu Dhabi can host more tournaments in the future, so we can keep playing here.”
Beyond the court, both players embraced the cultural side of their visit. Coello described trips to the Zayed National Museum and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as highlights of his stay, calling them “an incredible experience.”
The unique format — pitting the world’s leading duo against each other rather than alongside one another — resonated strongly with spectators.
Danny Al-Abadi, 18, who traveled from Dubai to attend the event, said: “You don’t get many chances to see this level of padel up close. Seeing the best in the world compete against each other instead of together made it even more special, and matches like this really help people understand the sport better.”
“The Ultimate Padel Match” further reinforced Abu Dhabi’s growing status as a destination for world-class sporting events, while offering fans a rare opportunity to witness elite padel outside the structure of the professional tour.
