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The Tunisian Ons Jabeur rewrote history, becoming the first tennis player to be dressed in a tennis outfit by a Saudi Arabia brand. The two-time Wimbledon finalist has signed an endorsement deal with Kayanee, the fitness brand owned by Saudi Arabia’s PIF, which will design a line of outfits just for Jabeur an exclusive tennis line for the 29-year-old.
Jabeur said about the new partnership in an interview with the National: “Saudi Arabia is a country that I want to discover more about and I hope to bring more tennis to it.Obviously I’m one of the players who will push to get there. I feel that this country deserves the possibility of organizing sporting events. It’s not a question of money, for me it’s about giving younger women, or any woman, the opportunity to practice sport and discover extraordinary things.”
Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, president of Kayanee, explained: “Ons Jabeur is not only a phenomenal athlete but also a symbol of resilience and determination.We are honored to have her as our global athletic ambassador. This collaboration isn’t just about fitness. It’s about inspiring young women to pursue their dreams and seek one’s place on an international playing courtd.”
Ons on the Israeli-Palestine conflict
Jabeur has expressed his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent months and has clearly expressed his opinion as the situation between the nations continues to worsen. Despite suffering several injuries during her season, Jabuer managed to reach the Wimbledon final in 2023, where her dream run was stopped by champion Marketa Vondrousova. In addition to achieving numerous feats, the 29-year-old has become the highest-ranked African and Arab professional in the history of the ATP and WTA rankings. In a post on Instagram, Ons Jabuer highlighted the current situation in Palestine and clarified her position. The three-time Grand Slam finalist briefly outlined the negative impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on civilians and she opposed any form of violence.
“What the Palestinians have gone through in the last 75 years is indescribable. What innocent civilians are going through is indescribable; no matter what their religion is or what their origin is. Violence will never bring peace; I cannot tolerate violence, but I also can’t stand people having their lands taken from them.So understanding the context is important, looking at what is happening today and deciding to ignore recent history is irresponsible and will not bring peace.And peace is all we care about. Peace is what everyone needs and deserves. Stop the violence and #FreePalestine,” she wrote.
