Anas Jaber .. “The Minister of His Excellency Tunisia” is on a date with history in his family’s absence

World number two Anas Jaber of Tunisia will compete in the Wimbledon tennis final against Kazakhstan’s Elina Rybakina on Saturday despite her family not having a “visa” to enter Britain to attend the historic final.

Ahead of the historic final, Zafar confirmed that his childhood dream was to win the French Open, as he never imagined winning Wimbledon.

“We don’t have any grass courts in Tunisia, so I can’t imagine being at Wimbledon,” said the Tunisian, whose Wimbledon quarter-finals last year made winning the tournament a dream come true.

In an interview with the BBC he said:BBC“Since then, my goal has been to go back and win the championship, and my brother Hatem is planning to come from Tunisia, I hope to be there on Saturday, but unfortunately my family members don’t have visas,” he said, adding: “It will happen. It’s hard for them, but they want me back home. will encourage

The Tunisian tennis star added, “My parents Samira and Reda and my sister Yasmin can’t come to London, but it would be great if Hadem and my nephew are here.”

Jaber’s matches enjoy a wide public following in Tunisia, where he is known as the “Minister of Happiness”. Tunisia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Kamal Daghish, said a popular reception would be organized in Jaber’s honor upon his return.Tunisian media“.

And local Tunisian media quoted the Tunisian minister as saying he would “attend the final”.

Jaber said: “I heard that the celebrations at home were crazy after I won the semi-final, and it will be even crazier if I win on Saturday,” adding that her country is going through difficult times politically, but she wants to “see the happiness of Tunisians,” according to BP. .

Anas Zafar achieved an unprecedented feat for Arab and African tennis by defeating Germany’s Maria Tatiana 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the semi-finals to qualify for the Wimbledon final.

“I am proud to be a Tunisian woman standing here,” she said after becoming the first Arab to reach the finals of a major tournament for both women and men, according to “AFP”.

Jafar added, “This is a dream come true after years of hard work and sacrifice. I am happy that it has paid off and will continue to work for another tournament.”

Last year, Zafar became the first Arab player to win a WTA title and break into the top ten in the singles rankings. CNN“.

However, her win on Saturday will be the biggest achievement of her career, as Zafar said, “I’ve often imagined myself holding the (Wimbledon) trophy.”

After the Australian Open 2020, Jafar knocked out five-time US champion Venus Williams and 2017 Spanish champion Carbine Muguroza on her way to a first quarter-final at Wimbledon and a second “Grand Slam” match. Champion, in addition to the Polish world number one at the moment. , Ega chevontik.

Zafar did not find it difficult to get through the first four rounds of this year’s championship, needing three sets to defeat the Czech, Mary Boskova and her friend Maria, before facing some difficulties in the last two rounds, “AFP “.

Despite the difficulties he faced until reaching the Wimbledon final, he spread joy among his people, and among the Tunisians who came to cheer him on at the tournament, according to “The New York Times“.

His arrival at the Wimbledon final was followed by a disappointing second Grand Slam appearance at French Roland Garros, where his career ended in the first round, and after his absence from the Australian Open due to injury, says “AFP”.

Jafar was one of the main contenders to win the Roland Garros title, notably winning his 1,000th Madrid tournament title on clay and reaching the final of his 1,000th edition in Rome, where he lost. Sviontek.

Zafar, 27, has made a big effort to believe in herself and has worked with sports psychologists since her teens and was coached by some of the best French tennis players until she reached that level of professionalism, according to the New York Times.

It will be the fourth final clash between Rybakina and Zafar, who won the last two meetings between them in 2021 in the second round of the Dubai tournament and the semi-finals of the Chicago tournament, while the Kazakhstani won the first in 2019. The second round of the Wuhan China tournament.

The Kazakh commented on Jafar’s match. He expects it to be a great match. She is an amazing player, a very tough player, not easy to play against falling and flying balls.

Saturday’s match will be between two different players, as Zafar is one of those players who show their emotions and enthusiasm, while Rybakina is characterized by her calmness.

Commenting on this, Zafar said of her opponent, “She is not one of those players who screams at every stage. I respect that. I know she is shy even off the court. I can be a screamer. In the final.”