Ons Jabeur 'excited' by prospect of WTA Finals moving to Saudi Arabia

Ons Jabeur said she is "very excited" by the prospect of playing in the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia this year and believes hosting the season-finale tournament in the kingdom can enhance opportunities for tennis players throughout the Arab world.

Saudi Arabia are in talks with the WTA over hosting the prestigious Finals – comprising the top-eight players in the rankings – and a decision is expected to be made in the next couple of weeks.

The kingdom has already been confirmed as the hosts of the ATP Next Gen Finals, featuring the leading under-21 male players, after agreeing a four-year partnership with the ATP. It will be the first time Saudi Arabia will host a professional tennis tournament.

Now the WTA Tour's season finale event could follow suit, and Jabeur has thrown her support behind the possibility of the kingdom hosting the tournament.

"As an Arab player, I'm very excited to be there," Jabeur, 28, said during her pre-US Open press conference on Saturday. "I'm someone pushing for change, pushing to give more opportunities, especially for women.

"I know in Saudi Arabia they are changing things and evolving. I was there last year to give a speech and it was very nice meeting a lot of amazing women."

Jabeur is a trailblazer for Arab female sport having set numerous milestones during her tennis career. Among her many achievements, the former world No 2 is the highest-ranked Arab or African player in WTA and ATP history, and is the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final, which she has achieved three times.

Jabeur was also the first Arab woman to win a WTA Tour title, achieved at the Birmingham Classic in 2021, and she has since won a further three trophies, including a Masters at the Madrid Open.

Making her