"No amount of money should wash away Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses" - Fans disappointed by Ons Jabeur's support of WTA Finals potentially being held in Saudi Arabia

Ons Jabeur recently spoke out in defense of the WTA Finals reportedly being held in Saudi Arabia. The Tunisian believes that organizing the year-end tournament in the country will open up opportunities for Arab women who aspire to have a career in sports.

Jabeur's comments, however, were met with condemnation from the tennis community on social media.

Many fans disagreed with her on the topic of Saudi Arabia's entry into tennis. While Jabeur asserted that the Middle East country was becoming more open-minded and tolerant, fans claimed that human rights concerns were still prevalent there.

One fan was extremely critical of Ons Jabeur's worldview, as they claimed that no amount of sports events in Saudi Arabia could possibly modernize their social approach.

"No amount of money should be able to wash away Saudi Arabias human rights abuses," they wrote.

Another fan accused the Tunisian of resorting to corporate grandstanding. They also emphasized that Saudi Arabia is not a safe haven for either women or LGBTQ people.

"So many lies. Absolutely nothing has changed in Saudi ever since Vision Saudi started few years back, only thing is more acceptance of no rights for women and LGBTQ is being packaged as 'their country their rules'. I don't think Ons is naive, so this is just corporate talk," they wrote.

Here are a few more reactions from the tennis community on social media:

A tennis fan reacts to Jabeur's comments

Another fan reacts to Jabeur's comments

Ons Jabeur would be hoping to replicate 2022 US Open performance this year

Ons Jabeur cries during the 2023 Wimbledon trophy ceremony

Ons Jabeur has enjoyed a good season in 2023, as evidenced by her 24-11 win/loss record on the WTA tour. The highlights of the Tunisian's season include winning the title in Charleston and reaching the final at Wimbledon.

The latter tournament, however, was a source of serious heartbreak for the 28-year-old. She defeated top players like Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina en route to the final, but couldn't play her best tennis against the unseeded Marketa Vondrousova and lost the championship match 6-4, 6-4.

Jabeur subsequently sat out of the Canadian Open due to a knee injury. She did make her return to competitive tennis in Cincinnati last week, where she lost in the quarterfinals to World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

The Tunisian was in scintillating form at the US Open last year, as she blitzed past all of her opponents to reach the final. Having dropped just one set en route, she was eventually defeated by World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the summit clash.

Jabeur, who has now lost all three of her Major finals, will be eager to go all the way at Flushing Meadows this year. She has received a kind draw in the first week, and starts her 2023 US Open campaign against Colombia's Camila Osorio Serrano.

The going could get tough for Ons Jabeur in the second week, though, with a potential last-eight match against familiar foe Sabalenka awaiting her at the New York Major.