Ons Jabeur cements status as one of all-time greatest Arab athletes

SMA NEWS – TUNIS
Tunisian world No. 2 may have lost Wimbledon final but every new landmark rapidly establishing reputation few others in region could rival
On Saturday, Ons Jabeur stood at Wimbledon Center Court and tearfully wished the people around the world a happy Eid Al-Adha.
Throughout the Arab world, and beyond, there was a collective breaking of hearts. Almost a week on from the Wimbledon Ladies final loss to Elena Rybakina, and those hearts are, just maybe, starting to heal.
And the Minister of Happiness is smiling again.
On Wednesday, she received a hero’s welcome on her return to Tunisia, and a day later she was presented with the Order of Merit by the country’s President Kais Saied.
Professionally, the world No. 2 — despite becoming the first Arab and African to reach a Grand Slam final — will no doubt carry the scars of that loss a little longer.
But, in time, she — and her fans — will look back on those two weeks in southwest London as a monumental and joyous achievement.
It is always best to guard against hyperbole, but there is a case to be made that the Tunisian hero is one of the greatest Arab athletes of all time, if not the greatest.
While a select few may have claim to that title, what Jabeur has done in her sport over the last two years is arguably unmatched by any other Arab, male or female, perhaps with the exception of Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah.
Certainly, in an individual sport, few can rival her achievements.