Two-time Wimbledon runner-up and international ambassador for the program wants to help ensure girls are “free to dream big”
Doha, Qatar: Ons Jabeur, the Tunisian tennis player and two-time Wimbledon runner-up, has joined Qatar Foundation as the international ambassador of its Creating Pathways program, with tennis introduced as the initiative’s final sport.
Tennis joins track and field, basketball, volleyball, and fencing in the Creating Pathways program, which was launched as part of Qatar Foundation’s (QF) FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 legacy plans. The five-sport program aims to expand opportunities for women and girls, develop local athletic talent, and create sustainable pathways from grassroots participation to high-performance sport. A key component of this program is identifying role models for young girls from Qatar and the region to relate and look up to.
Jabeur is the first Arab and African woman to reach a Grand Slam singles final and the highest-ranked Arab and African player in history. Her success has inspired millions, broken barriers, and expanded what young people – especially girls – believe is possible. Beyond the court, she is a powerful advocate for women in sport and for humanitarian causes.
Speaking about why she joined QF’s Creating Pathways program, she said: “I was inspired by the program’s focus on empowering young people, especially girls, and creating real opportunities through sport and education. It reflects my own journey and values, and being part of it allows me to give back in a meaningful way.
“I hope girls see that sport can build confidence, discipline, and belief in themselves. Through tennis, they can discover their potential and feel empowered to dream big on the court and beyond. I want to help create a future where girls have equal opportunities, feel confident and supported, and are free to dream big, both in sport and in life, knowing they truly belong.”
The program is open to girls aged under 16, and in addition to on-court development, it takes a holistic approach, educating young people on the importance of regular exercise, proper nutrition, and overall wellbeing.
“Inspirational sporting figures like Ons Jabeur epitomize what it means, and what it takes, to be a champion in both sport and life,” said Alanoud Al Mesnad, Executive Director, Women’s and Girls’ Sports, Qatar Foundation. “The stories and successes of Ons and all our program ambassadors educate, motivate, and energize our Creating Pathways participants as they pursue their goals of reaching sport’s elite level.
“These are the goals we aim to enable girls from Qatar and the region to achieve by honing their talent through programming that stands for quality, and develops their knowledge and mindsets as well as their skills, in a safe environment designed specifically for them so that they can learn, grow, and thrive – setting them on a journey that we hope will ultimately see them become the sporting role models of tomorrow.
“When you invest in sport at grassroots level, you identify potential at its source and have the opportunity to nurture it to fruition, supporting the sporting aspirations of both the individual and the nation. With the launch of its tennis track, Creating Pathways’ portfolio of sports is now complete, and – supported by our ambassadors – we look forward to setting young girls with big ambitions on the path to realizing their sporting dreams.”
During this week’s National Sport Day, Jabeur led several activations at Education City celebrating sport, participation, and women’s athletic achievement, as part of QF’s contribution to the nationwide showcase of the benefit of sporting participation and active, healthy living. “My message is simple: sport is for everyone,” she said.
“It brings joy, confidence, and strength, and it can positively change lives.”
As part of QF’s National Sport Day celebrations, girls aged under 16 were also given the opportunity to explore some of the Creating Pathways sports, designed to introduce new skills, build confidence, and encourage long-term participation in sports.
