Two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur believes those who criticise Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in tennis need to be ‘more informed’ on the topic.
The world No.6 has lent her full backing behind the prospect of the Middle Eastern Nation staging the WTA Finals despite criticism from human rights organisations. Saudi Arabia has invested millions in various sports with some accusing them of sportwashing. A practice where sport is used to improve the image of a nation that has been negatively affected by wrongdoing. The country has been under fire over their restrictions on women’s and LGBT rights.
Recently tennis heavyweights Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova co-wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post urging the WTA to not stage their season-ending event in Saudi Arabia. Claiming that such a move would ‘represent not progress, but significant regression.’
“Taking a tournament there would represent a significant step backward, to the detriment not just of women’s sport, but women,” Navratilova and Evert said.
The article prompted backlash from Saudi Arabia with their Ambassador to the United States, Princess Reema bint Bandar al-Saud, writing a two-page response that was published on social media. Princess Reema said the duo failed to address the improvements made to women’s rights in her country and their argument was based on ‘outdated stereotypes.’ However, she made no comment on LGBT rights which was an issue also raised by Navratilova and Evert.
“Failing to acknowledge the great progress women have made in Saudi Arabia denigrates our remarkable journey. This not only undermines the progress of women in sports, it sadly undermines women, progress as a whole.” She wrote.
“Sports should not be used as a weapon to advance personal bias or agendas or punish a society that is eager to embrace tennis and help celebrate and grow the sport.”
Weighting in on the argument, 29-year-old Jabeur has praised Princess Reema’s ‘classy’ response and told the AFP that her fellow players were also impressed by it. Although she did not mention any names.
Jabeur played an exhibition match against Aryna Sabalenka in Saudi Arabia in December and hailed that experience. She has also signed a sponsorship deal with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund-owned fitness and wellness brand Kayanee.
“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,” she said.
The Tunisian argues that staging events in the region would bring more positives than negatives to the sport. Recently Rafael Nadal signed a deal to be an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation and he is set to open an academy there in the future.
“It’s amazing to go there and inspire, not just women, men too,” Jabeur explained.
“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.”
It is expected that the WTA will announce the host city of their finals by the end of this month.
