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Our Ons Jabeur, the Pride Giver4 min read

By Hafida Ben Rejeb Latta July 17, 2022
Written by Hafida Ben Rejeb Latta July 17, 2022
Ons Jabeur Pride Giver

My apologies, dear reader. I am not complaining, if anything I feel delighted that events have overtaken me. My promise to tell you about my Cookery book must be shelved for a short while. When I made it I had no clue as to the opportunity that a splendid young Tunisian woman was going to put in my path. I am, of course, talking about the uniquely talented Ons.

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I have been watching Wimbledon on T.V. ever since I got married, over a half a century ago. It was just a hobby of mine, and although I hoped to go there one day I had never thought it would be to watch a Tunisian woman playing in a semi-final match. Had I even mentioned this to my friends, they would have laughed at me, but of course they were not the only ones.

And then it happened only last week. I screamed to the TV: “Ons, get it”, “Oh, you wonder! I love you”, “Ah, no worry, there’s another chance ” And then when she won the quarter finals, there was no stopping me. I had to go to Wimbledon. There were no tickets, but I was prepared to queue, even for the Ground, if I could not get into the Centre Court.

It took a long trip first by train, then two lines of underground and a final thirty minute walk to reach the queue and a lucky last ticket for the Centre Court, in row W. Never mind I was there and was ready to enjoy the experience. The court started filling up.  I found myself sitting next to one of Tatjana Maria’s supporters. 

I explained that I may well become tribal for which I, for once in my life, am not going to apologise.  After all, I waited a whole 55 years for this to happen to me: a woman Tunisian in the semi-finals. My neighbour just said Wow! That’s patience and belief.

Every ball that Ons won found me dancing with joy and screaming with pleasure. My heart was bursting with pride. How tribal one can be! I didn’t care. I had to express all the frustrations of watching so much Wimbledon tennis without seeing an African or Arab face let alone a victory for our Minister of Happiness. It was a shame I couldn’t tell her so to her face, but I danced all the way to the tube station. Someone said: “Your player must have won”. I answered:”And just how,! She’s a champion”

That night I was too excited looking forward to watching the finals and seeing her win to bother with sleep. Sure enough, when the time came she won the first set and all hopes were raised, but her heavy serving opponent snatched victory in the end.

My pride for Ons was no less and when I saw her struggling to block tears of disappointment I felt like telling her that she had achieved more than has ever been done by any Tunisian woman before and very few others in the world. Head up and come back next year. The following morning even before breakfast I wrote a poem, in homage to our champion:

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Ons, the pride giver

At Wimbledon, us Tunisians
Had no place, were only aliens
Then came Ons, a champion with great soul
She planted dreams and made us whole.

From Carthage to Kairouan
Led by our white swan
We sat to the TV glue
Cheering for our dreams to come true.

Oh!  A ball out of court
That drove our joy away
Just an inch spoiled our day
But will not let this cruel shout
Take our love for Ons out.

We know you forget your fast spring.
We felt the grief in you gnawing.
After all you did your best
Just take a good rest.
And in court spend next day
For you no sighing, no dismay.

Remember Ons, dear
There's always next year!

For now you showed us the way
And to Wimbledon we shall dozens of us go
Now no stopping us us, Tunisians
There we shall forever play.
Thank you, my friend, for the precious lesson.
You will be always, our shining star, our Ons.
Hafida Latta.
Hafida Latta.

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Hafida Ben Rejeb Latta

Hafida Ben Rejeb Latta was born in Kairouan in 1944. After graduating from l’Ecole Nationale d’Administration in Tunis she worked as secretary to the then Minister of Culture and Information and taught Arabic to Peace Corps volunteers. She went on to marry a British diplomat and left Tunisia to live and teach in Pakistan, Lebanon, Jordan, the UAE and many other countries from her English base. In Jordan she raised funds for the Mental Health Society and built and equip a Day Centre in the Bakaa Camp in 1986-7. She also raised funds and launched the establishment of the College of Occupational Therapy with General Union of Voluntary Society and the Al Hussein Society for the Physically Handicapped. In 1990 the College won the UNESCO regional Award for the best small project of the year. She has two sons: a British diplomat and an oil journalist. Hafida also completed a Master’s degree in education from London University. A well travelled life is described in her autobiography: A Daughter of Kairouan, published in English in 2017.

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