According to Ons Jabeur, women’s tennis is not receiving enough attention or funding from the media or tennis regulatory bodies.
At a career-high World No. 2, Jabeur is a tennis trailblazer and the highest-ranked player of African and Arab descent. She competed in her third Grand Slam final the previous year, losing to Marketa Vondrousova, a historical figure.
The Tunisian is one of the most captivating players on the circuit and is well-liked by her colleagues. When Jabeur is competing in a tournament, her captivating tennis style perfectly balances her endearing demeanor, making her an attraction to watch.
After the match, Jabeur told reporters that women’s sports in general and tennis in particular, simply haven’t received the recognition they deserve from the media and sports organizations. They ought to deserve better, in her opinion.
“In my opinion, they ought to show greater respect for women and our style of play.There are certain things we sense, and certainly, in perhaps a lot of customs, the way women and men are treated here is very different. Perhaps those from the outside are blind to it.”
Yes, I’m among those who really wish to voice their opinions. I love watching women’s sports in general and women’s tennis in particular. We ought to be treated better, in my opinion. It’s not as though we aren’t trying, and we are definitely asking for more than we deserve.”
Jabeur has made a strong case for equal pay for men and women while on tour. The three-time Grand Slam runner-up demanded that the Italian Open administrators provide equal prize money by 2025 last year. That is what the tournament is doing right now, though it won’t happen anytime soon.
She went on to say that people make assumptions about women’s tennis without ever witnessing it. Jabeur gave an example of how Spanish broadcasters hardly ever cover women’s matches on television at the ongoing Madrid tournament.
“At times, I don’t think money is the only factor; respect is equally important. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: occasionally, people will assess women’s tennis before they’ve ever seen a single match. That really irritates me.”
“I feel like a woman playing inspires a whole new generation. For instance, when I’m in Spain, I can’t wait to go to the hotel, turn on the TV, and watch a match of women’s tennis. I have never ever watched a lady play tennis. I know there’s a lot of Spanish being played, but all they’re showing? Could we just get one match? Not even the Spanish female players are making an appearance.”
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