Ons Jabeur sharpens quest to inspire more Arab women to take up tennis

Ons Jabeur's long-stated goal is that her historic exploits on court lead to more Arab women taking up tennis -- becoming the first Arab player to win a Grand Slam in next month's French Open final would do wonders to achieve that. The 27-year-old Tunisian became a front-rank contender for tennis's greatest prize on clay with her gutsy three-set victory over American Jessica Pegula in Madrid on Saturday. In doing so the engaging and highly expressive Jabeur wrote another piece of tennis history.

Her 7-5, 0-6, 6-2 victory made her the first Arab or African woman to win a WTA 1000 title. Her title in Birmingham last year was the first for an Arab woman player on the circuit and she is the first Arab player -- man or woman -- to crack the top 10. Indeed she will return to her previous highest ranking of seven on Monday.

With a tour-leading 12 victories on clay so far this season -- and with Australia's world number one Ashleigh Barty having retired -- the omens seem positive for her. However, she has another glass ceiling to crack in reaching the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time -- so she has two quarter-finals to her credit in Australia in 2020 and Wimbledon last year. Jabeur -- the junior champion at Roland Garros in 2011 -- is, though, armed with a powerful weapon apart from her strokeplay.