Ons Jabeur receives hero's welcome on return to Tunisia - in pictures

Wimbledon finalist posed for selfies and signed autographs after being greeted by hundreds of fans

Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur holds a bouquet as she arrives in Tunis. Jabeur recently lost against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in the women's singles final of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London. AP

Jabeur kisses the Tunisian flag at Tunis airport. Tunisians have remained enthralled with the tennis star, celebrating her presence in the prestigious Wimbledon final despite her loss. AP

Jabeur poses for a selfie with fans as she arrives at Tunis airport. AP

Jabeur is greeted as she arrives at Tunis airport. AP

Jabeur poses for a photo with fans outside Carthage International Airport in Tunis. Reuters

Jabeur with fans outside Carthage International Airport. Reuters

Supporters take selfies with Jabeur upon her return to Tunis after Wimbeldon. AFP

Jabeur talks to the media. Reuters

Jabeur with fans outside Carthage International Airport. Reuters

Jabeur with supporters. EPA

Jabeur gives the thumbs-up to supporters upon her return to Tunisia after Wimbledon. AFP

Jabeur greets supporters in Tunis. EPA

Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur received a hero's welcome when she returned to Tunisia on Wednesday.

The history-making tennis player was greeted by hundreds of fans when she made her way out of the Tunis-Carthage International Airport in the capital of Tunis.

Jabeur was presented with flowers and was swarmed by supporters, reporters and television cameras. She posed for selfies and signed autographs as supporters got up close to the 27-year-old.

Jabeur has spent much of her career breaking new ground for African and Arab tennis, particularly women's tennis. She was the first Arab to win a WTA Tour title - achieved in Birmingham last summer - and the first to win a Masters tournament when she lifted the Madrid trophy in May.

She is also the highest-ranked African or Arab player, male or female, in history. Having entered Wimbledon as the world No 2 and despite reaching the final, Jabeur has slipped to fifth in the rankings after the tournament was stripped of ranking points by the WTA Tour.

Last Saturday, Jabeur had the chance to add another major piece of history to her career by becoming the first African or Arab female to win a Grand Slam title when she competed in the Wimbledon final. However, after taking a one-set lead, Jabeur fell to a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 defeat to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina.

Despite the disappointment, Jabeur vowed to come back stronger and is determined to become a Grand Slam champion.

“I don't disbelieve in myself and I know that I'm going to come back and win a Grand Slam, for sure,” she told reporters after the Wimbledon final. “This is tennis, and it's part of it. I have to learn from it, definitely. But I'm very, very positive about it."

Check out the photos from Jabeur's return to Tunisia in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.