Tunisian tennis player Anas Jaber expressed her inability to celebrate her victory during the trauma and severe aggression the Palestinian people are currently facing.
Jaber announced her intention to donate a portion of her prize money from the season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, to support Palestinians.
This heartfelt gesture comes after Jaber avenged her previous loss to Czech player Marketa Vondrousova in a stunning 6-4, 6-3 victory at Wimbledon’s final last Wednesday.
Her triumph marked her first win of the week at the prestigious tournament in Cancun, bouncing back from an initial loss to American Coco Gauff. The emotional Jaber, tears streaming down her face, took a moment during her on-court interview to share her thoughts and feelings.
As the only Arab player to have reached the finals of one of tennis’ four Grand Slam tournaments, Jaber expressed, “I am incredibly happy to have won, but I have been unhappy lately.”
Overwhelmed with emotion and breaking into tears, she took a moment to compose herself before addressing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, stating, “The situation in the world does not make me happy.”
“It is incredibly hard to see children dying every day,” she added, according to Agence France-Presse. Jaber continued, “It’s devastating, which is why I have decided to donate part of my prize money to help the Palestinians.
I cannot be happy with just this win, not with what is happening right now. I’m sorry, guys; it’s supposed to be about tennis, but it’s just heartbreaking to watch those videos every day.”
Jaber’s compassionate decision and emotional reaction not only highlight her exceptional sportsmanship but also her deep sense of social responsibility.
Her commitment to using her platform to shed light on critical global issues and provide support where it is needed most resonates with fans worldwide, further solidifying her status as not just a remarkable athlete, but also an inspiring human being.
