Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has said she will donate a part of her prize money from the ongoing Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals to Palestinians facing the wrath of Israel’s war on Gaza.
A visibly emotional Jabeur held back tears as she spoke on the court after her win over Marketa Vondrousova in Cancun on Wednesday.
“I am very happy with the win, but I haven’t been happy lately,” Jabeur said when asked if – being Tunisia’s unofficial “Minister of Happiness” – she was happy to avenge her Wimbledon final defeat to Vondrousova.
“The situation in the world doesn’t make me happy,” Ons Jabeur said, then paused and moved away from the microphone as she broke down in tears.
The crowd at the seaside Mexican town applauded Jabeur as she composed herself before speaking about the images coming out of Gaza.
“It’s very tough seeing children, babies dying every day,” she said.
“It’s heartbreaking, so I have decided to donate part of my prize money to help the Palestinians.”
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