It is always a joyous occasion for an avid sports fan when the best of sporting worlds collide. Tennis and soccer have come together in the past to produce some of the most memorable moments. The two have come together once again to make history, as Ons Jabeur joins the soccer world as a minority owner in the NWSL.
Jabeur has quite a reputation for being a trailblazer for women. Ons was the first Arab-African woman to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open Era. She has done it again, this time with her investment in the National Women’s Soccer League.
The Tunisian is now a minority owner of the North Carolina Courage. Jabeur will team up with former world number one Naomi Osaka, who became a minority owner in 2021.
Welcome to #CourageCountry Ons!
Tennis superstar @Ons_Jabeur has joined the NC Courage team as a minority owner pic.twitter.com/dT8FhI8sDX
— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) August 25, 2023
Jabeur’s addition has come at an appropriate time, as the team has seen a substantial equity raise recently. The capital will not only help the players and the staff, but it will also help the franchise grow. With Jabeur’s participation, NWSL will see international growth as well.
Jabeur spoke of soccer and female empowerment being two of her biggest passions, besides tennis of course. She also joked about asking Osaka to let her play as a striker for the Courage. “I asked her if she would give me a starting position as a striker, but she said no… so I did the next best thing and become an owner,” said Jabeur (via NC Courage).
Ons Jabeur is a popular figure within the tennis fraternity and is loved by her peers. She is affectionately called ‘The Minister of Happiness’ by her fans back home in Tunisia. Jabeur is a tennis icon and is still looking to win her first slam.
Ons Jabeur and her continued quest for a Grand Slam title
Jabeur is currently one of the top players in tennis. She has won four WTA titles in her career so far, and eleven titles in the ITF circuit. Jabeur has made it to the finals of a Grand Slam thrice, but she unfortunately lost on all three occasions.
The Tunisian made history when she reached the Wimbledon final in 2022. She was the first Arab-African woman to do so, making an entire continent proud of her achievement. Jabeur could not shoulder the continent’s expectations in the final against Elena Rybakina. She lost 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to the Kazakh.
Jabeur followed it up with another final run at the US Open. She was still hurting from her Wimbledon loss when she defeated Caroline Garcia to make it to the final. However, Iga Swiatek defeated Jabeur in straight sets at the Flushing Meadows.
Jabeur made another remarkable final run at the Wimbledon this year. She defeated four Grand Slam champions en route to the final, where she locked horns with Marketa Vondrousova. Unfortunately, Vondrousova dashed her hopes of lifting her maiden Grand Slam title.
Jabeur is still on the hunt for her first Major title. She has previously stated she will keep playing fearlessly, whether she wins or not. Ons will be seen at the US Open next, which begins on August 28th.