Ons Jabeur on Gaza, gender and planning her comeback to tennis

[0:00] I think that's the thing with athletes, you know, just I feel like sometimes we're programmed to [0:04] act a certain way and speak a certain way that we forgot that we are human beings and we can feel [0:11] emotions. Taking center stage today is Anze Jaber, the Tunisian tennis star who became the first [0:20] African and Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open era. A Wimbledon and US Open [0:27] runner-up and former world number two, Jaber is known for more than just her success on the court. [0:33] She's also become a powerful voice on global issues, speaking out on Palestine and championing [0:39] causes beyond sport. Anze Jaber, thank you so much for joining us on center stage. You are known [0:46] as a trailblazer on the court, but if there's one thing we've all noticed is that off the court, [0:53] your voice carries so much weight, your influence carries so much weight. I'm just wondering when [1:01] did you realize that, you know, as a high profile, as a top athlete, that it also meant having a [1:08] platform beyond tennis? Well, thank you for having me first. It's an honor to be here. I guess it's [1:16] part of my character, part of me that I don't want just to be the tennis player that hates forehand [1:22] and backhand, but also uses my platform for the good and I hope I'm doing it right. You know, social [1:29] media or everything around, you know, an athlete could be overwhelming sometimes, but I try, you know, [1:35] my best to speak for the right causes around the world and use my platform for the good things. [1:42] I think that's what everyone loves and appreciates about you is the fact that you wear your heart on your sleeve, [1:49] and not just your heart. You're very, you're beautifully emotional, right? If something is [1:57] on your mind or triggering you or something like you, you just open about it and it's a beautiful [2:00] thing to see, especially when you have the platform that you've got. You've spoken very openly about [2:07] what's going on in Gaza, in Ukraine. I suppose a lot of other athletes, they choose to stay silent for [2:12] whatever reasons. What made you feel, I know you said it's a part of your character, but what made [2:18] you feel it was important to speak anyway, knowing that there could be a backlash? I mean, the Gaza [2:24] situation is very close to my heart. I grew up with the cause, with the, you know, the war that is [2:32] happening there. It's heartbreaking. I think from the young age, we always somehow try to support Palestine [2:39] and the cause. So yeah, I, I had some people telling me not to speak up and that will ruin probably my [2:48] career. And what did you say when it was, it was tough. It was tough because for me to tell me not to [2:57] speak up about anything in life, to be honest with you, would suffocate me and would not make me be, [3:05] you know, feel comfortable, you know. So I guess that's why the first video that I spoke in, I was [3:12] like crying a lot because I was holding for months. I wanted to speak. I was sharing, you know, on social [3:19] media, but not the way that I wanted to speak about, you know, what was happening. And it's so frustrating [3:25] because I guess half of the people, they don't know the actual cause of everything that is happening. [3:32] They think it started two years ago, which it's been going on for so, so many years. [3:37] And it breaks my heart, you know, to see the kids and women suffering every day. And basically you [3:43] cannot do anything about it, you know. So thankfully the work that I do with WFP, I hope it's helping a [3:50] little bit. I had a meeting, you know, with them and they've been giving me the stats and everything. [3:56] And I truly, from one video, I think I helped a lot, which I still think it's not enough, you know. [4:03] So I'm very glad that I did that, but I hope, you know, the situation will be much better there and, [4:09] you know, give every child the opportunity to live like a normal human being. [4:13] Why do you think athletes feel that pressure not to speak up, whether it's about Gaza, Ukraine, Congo, [4:22] other issues going on in the world? I mean, I don't want to, I'm not in the shoes of so many players. [4:30] I don't know what kind of contract they signed with different sponsors. I do understand and maybe I ask [4:37] people to understand a little bit what's going on. And listen, there is always a higher platform out [4:43] there. I got death threats. I got, you know, complaints about me playing in tennis and, you know, [4:53] maybe some other things that I'm not even aware of. So I understand that some athletes won't have [4:58] the courage to do that. And to be honest with you, they're not obligated to speak about anything. [5:04] If they feel comfortable to do it, I feel like for me that would come from an honest place. If they're [5:10] forced to speak about it, I don't feel that that's right. So I wish we can all come together, [5:17] find a solution and just bring peace in this world. Did you have a support network or did anyone [5:26] support you when you were, I suppose, getting some backlash or people were saying, oh, she should [5:33] really stick to sports. She shouldn't really speak up. I don't pay attention to these people. [5:39] Well, there's just, sorry, but a bunch of cohorts behind screens, you know, just writing because [5:46] I'm kind of used to a little bit of that, you know, as a tennis player with all the gambling, [5:53] you know, persons behind the screen that they're not happy either you lose or win. Sometimes you don't [6:01] know where they bet. So I'm kind of used to that, but it's not my job to educate them about the cause. [6:08] It's not my job to, you know, just tell them like, can you please look at the history and see what's [6:13] actually going on? But that comes down to them as well. If they want to learn and understand, [6:19] I mean, you can only use your platform for good and tell people, okay, this is what's going on. [6:25] I can lead you to water, but I can't make you drink it, so to speak. [6:29] I mean, yes, but for me, I chose to really focus my energy on the actual people that need my help, [6:37] you know, so we were able to get food, water, medicine to the people that actually need them. [6:44] I didn't want to waste my energy on explaining why do I need to do that, which for me, it's a human [6:51] thing to do. You know, you can see the actual situation. You can see what's happening there. [6:56] And I didn't want to get into politics for me. The most important thing was to remember that we all [7:01] are human beings. I'm just wondering, how do you balance speaking from the heart and tuning out [7:11] the noise? How do you do that? I'm not sure I'm doing that to be honest with you. Some days better [7:19] than others, I guess. No, it gets me sometimes. It does because I feel like I want to be understood [7:28] by people, but at the same time, I'm like, why am I wasting my energy on someone that I don't even know [7:35] who he is or who she is behind the screen? Are they doing it on purpose or not? Is it like provoking me? [7:42] And I honestly, I try really to focus my energy on the right thing that deserves, deserves my energy. [7:49] Because if you're gonna look at every comment of every opinion, you're really gonna waste your time [7:56] and I don't have time to waste. So do you have any, I don't know, coping mechanisms? I mean, what do you, [8:02] what do you do to get your frustration out and just block everything out? Listen, I'm a tennis player, [8:09] so I hit my rage on a tennis ball. I take the racket. I love boxing sometimes. It's good. [8:18] Yeah, I'm a huge, huge fan. So I imagine the person. Yeah, legal boxing, like, [8:23] why are you gonna send me to prison for boxing? Like, no, it's a beautiful skill and a beautiful sport, [8:28] but my goodness, just to hit the pads. It's a sweet sound as well when you hit the pads. [8:34] Exactly. And I feel like also the most important thing not to keep inside, you know, anything, [8:41] because I try to speak up, you know, with my family, with my husband. I try to just let it go, [8:47] you know, I don't want this to affect my health because I'm keeping inside and keeping the anger [8:52] inside and usually it doesn't help. So. Speaking about your health and your mental health, [8:59] you've made the decision to step back from tennis, obviously for good reason as well. [9:04] It was before this. But you've been very open about, you know, preserving your mental health. [9:11] When was the moment you realized, you know, I'm going to give myself permission to do this [9:16] and not think about the ramifications, what people are saying. I'm going to do this for me. [9:21] Yeah, I'm I think it started 2025 because 2024 was a bit of struggle for me. I didn't have the result [9:30] that I wanted and I, you know, my body was kind of screaming for help. I had different injuries [9:36] from different sides and I believe, yes, there is the physical side of it, but also there is the [9:41] emotional side of it. This is how your body communicates with you. And I'm like, I wasn't [9:47] feeling very happy on the court, not like waiting to play a match was, well, I was thinking like, [9:53] okay, when is this tournament done? And usually when you think about that, it's not the right [9:58] signs, I guess. And I was going to finish the season 2026. And then I was after, I think Grand [10:06] Slams and French Open and Wimbledon, I was not, if I was not playing and feeling happy on a grass court, [10:13] then it's like, I was, I'm like, I'm done. I think after Wimbledon, I will stop and it didn't go well. [10:20] It was like a mess. So I'm like, okay, I'm going to give myself a little bit of time, [10:24] spend, you know, some time with my family, enjoy. And that's when I announced that I'm taking a break [10:31] and this happened. Yeah, you had a good break. Definitely. Yeah. If I can just talk about that [10:39] final, I'm just doing like my research all over again and watching your videos. [10:46] And I do remember that final and I remember your post match. And again, I love how emotional you [10:52] are. I appreciate it. And the fact that you have, you do it in front of so many people. [10:57] I mean, you said that it's the most painful loss of my career. As soon as you said that, we all felt [11:02] that. I mean, look, we're not on the court with you, but the fact that you just express so much [11:10] raw emotion, I think we just, we all felt it with you. But I think that's the thing with athletes, [11:16] you know, just, I feel like sometimes we're programmed to act a certain way and speak a [11:22] certain way that we forgot that we are human beings and we can feel emotions and, you know, [11:29] the coach or whatever the team tells you, like, don't show emotions. You're not supposed to show [11:34] that you are weak or whatever. But I, it's not me. Why do they equate showing emotion with weakness? [11:41] I don't know. Even like when I play, I get angry and I just scream and some coaches before is like, [11:47] no, do not scream. Do not. I'm like, I'm going to scream. I tried. I honestly tried not to get angry [11:54] and not react, but I'm like the fact that I scream and just like, I let it go and then just move [11:59] on. I think the mistake that maybe some athletes could make is like, keep that anger for two, [12:05] three games. And you know, in tennis, you cannot afford to lose one point. So I get that part, [12:12] you know, but I, I, again, I cannot keep my emotions as I just like to express. I like to, [12:20] to connect also with, with the fans and with the people they came to watch me to see the real me, [12:25] you know, the real, I, I'm not hide my tears and then go inside and cry again, you know, so. [12:31] But that's what makes you relatable. I cry on the court and outside the court. So [12:34] I was honest with that. You're just like, yeah, but no, that's what makes you relatable. It's like, [12:38] okay, you are, you know, the peak of your fitness, your career. And it's like, oh my gosh, [12:42] yeah, she can have, she can cry too. So that's, again, it's a beautiful thing to see that it's okay. [12:48] You said it earlier, like just finding a deeper meaning or deeper purpose, you know, other than [12:53] just being on the circuit chasing, you know, grand slams. What does that deeper purpose look like for [13:02] you? Tennis is part of my life for maybe what, 15 years, 20 years. I don't know how long I would be [13:10] playing, but it's basically, if you do the math, it's, it's, it's not even, you know, 100% of your [13:19] life. It's really a small part of your life and you have a lot of things to do. So for me, it's [13:24] very important how I carry myself, how I, I want to, I'm born in this life to make a change. I don't [13:32] want to just be working every day, just clock in and out and that's it. There's no meaningful thing [13:38] behind it. So, and I'm, I'm lucky. I got the chance to have a platform. I got the chance to, [13:44] you know, have TVs that want to listen to my stories and, and, you know, tell it, [13:51] and to be able to use that in a good way. I think that's what makes the difference. I don't want to [13:57] be just the player to just hit forehands and backhands, just leave, you know, I want to have an impact on [14:04] other people's life. I want to change things. I want to be vocal about things that matters in life. Yes. [14:11] And what about off the court as well? What's your purpose? I mean, it's that is that I want to, [14:16] I really want to speak up about things that, that ignored, you know, like a lot of women rights, [14:22] women, you know, opportunities in, in sports in general, you know, that, that matters, you know, [14:30] tennis is a great sport, but we still need that push to, to give for, for women to be more knowing, [14:37] to give them the opportunity to be, you know, seen, I guess. Talking about women's causes within [14:45] the sport, there's something that the PIF have done. Can you talk about that a little bit more? [14:51] Because you said again, earlier in the, in the conversation that, you know, some, some sponsors, [14:56] you know, they prefer you to play. So, you know, they can pay you, they might put something in your [15:00] contract and then they don't have to pay you if you're out for six months. Can you just go into that a [15:05] little bit more? Yes. PIF did a great partnership with the WTA. It started with the ranking and then [15:14] it happened with giving maternity leave for, you know, athletes, they're not playing, you know, [15:21] obviously it could benefit more athletes than others. You know, some like, oh, you, you gain [15:28] millions while you need that. And I'm like, how am I supposed to answer this? It's like, this is, [15:34] I obviously some other athletes they needed more than me, but it's, it's a great support. You know, [15:41] my income, if I don't play, I have no income basically. And that's, you know, that's part of my job. [15:48] It's a risky job. But, you know, I love risks, you know, so I love to secure a good life for my baby [15:57] boy one day. I would love to spoil also myself if I'm not playing. And I think that's a great support [16:05] and I guess less stress for a woman's athlete to, to have that, you know, maternity leave thing and [16:12] to be able just to not worry about money, I guess. And, you know, the expenses that it comes. [16:19] Well, yeah, you've got other things to worry about. And, you know, your boy's coming very soon [16:24] as well. He's a, he's, is he behaving right now? Is he calm? He's good. He's good. He's good. Yeah. [16:30] I mean, I mean, I, I, I would imagine you've been thinking about names and I don't know how you, [16:36] you and your husband are going to raise him, but what kind of a world do you want to have for your, [16:42] your son? I'll start with him. I hope he will be a good gentleman [16:48] and he respects women and understands their values. [16:54] I hope he loves me more. You know, I always tell him, [17:00] no, but I'm super excited to, to, you know, discover his character. You know, [17:07] I have a different character than my husband. So, so I don't know what's, what's going to happen. [17:12] I like your dynamic. You guys are quite hilarious. I think your son is going to have [17:17] hilarious parents, like brilliant parents, because you seem very in sync. There was a, [17:23] something that you did for social media where you had to write on a whiteboard, like what he likes, [17:30] what you like, that sort of thing. And there was one particular question and you both answered the same [17:36] way and it was kids and family. And I'm like, oh, these guys are just so, you're just, you're very [17:42] in sync. We both love kids. We always want to have kids earlier than this, but you know, [17:49] my career was taking over a little bit and it was never the right time, I guess. But then I'm thankful [17:56] to have Karim because he's very understanding. You know, he could have pushed me, you know, to have kids, [18:02] but he did not do that. He was very patient and he was very happy, you know, to, to get the news. [18:08] Although he wanted the girl, so, you know. I don't know, I don't know how many children you guys want, [18:14] but you know what, as long as the baby selfie. I tell him, let's start with the boy and then let's see, [18:17] you know. Yes, exactly. Like, hello, you have to carry the child, you know. Yeah, but I'm, [18:23] he's looking forward. We both are and it's a new chapter in our lives. We don't know how it's going to be. [18:30] I want to come back on tour with, with the baby. So it's going to be a different kind of recovery [18:35] for me, you know, and different kind of journeys on, on tours. Have you already thought about [18:40] the comeback? Yes. I mean, tell us, tell us more about the, the comeback. So I, listen, [18:46] I try to put pressure, but not pressure on myself. So at the same time, like, okay, [18:51] if I give birth in April, July, I want to start, you know, maybe a little bit earlier, [18:56] start training slowly and see how my body reacts. And I'll try to aim and play some tournaments end [19:03] of this year, if I can. But then at the same time, like, okay, let's not do the same mistake that I [19:08] did before and push my body when it's not ready. So I'm aiming towards that. But if my body is ready, [19:14] I will play some tournaments. If my body is not ready, I will not play any tournaments. So [19:18] I want to, honestly, I just want to be happy and enjoy my life, enjoy, you know, tennis again and [19:25] finish on a good chapter, you know, for me, I, I would love to play for four more years if I can. [19:31] And then just maybe have a second kid. So let's see. [19:36] Finally, what does success look like for you on the court and off it? [19:44] I guess it's related on and off the court, you know, results. I would love to have my own Grand [19:52] Slam. But the question is, is it the most important thing in life? I'd rather be happy [19:57] and enjoy my life and then have a beautiful family around me than to be kind of related to titles and to, [20:05] you know, just labeled, you know, as a Grand Slam champion or as, you know, something, you know, [20:13] but success is like, honestly, waking up in the morning, happy, smiling and, and have, you know, [20:21] your kid running around, I guess, and enjoy every, every great moment of your life, [20:28] core memories with, with the baby, with, with my husband and just hopefully, you know, help the [20:34] world better, help, you know, the kids better and really make a good impact in, in the world. [20:41] Okay, on Shabu, the, the minister of happiness. [20:46] You love that for the end. I love it. I'm sorry. I love that title. It's just perfection. [20:51] I really appreciate you being here today. You could have said no to this interview, [20:56] but you didn't. But maybe I said no before. No, but we got you. [21:00] We got you. We got you. No, seriously, I appreciate you. Thank you for joining us [21:03] on center stage. Thank you. Thank you.