TUNIS — Tunisian tennis star and former world number two, Ons Jabeur, has announced she is taking a break from the sport, citing physical strain and emotional exhaustion after two challenging years on the professional circuit.
Jabeur, 30, shared her decision in a heartfelt message on social media, stating, “For the last two years, I’ve been pushing myself so hard, fighting through injuries and facing many other challenges. But deep down, I haven’t felt really happy on the court for some time now.”
Currently ranked 71st in the world, the three-time Grand Slam finalist said she now feels it is time to “breathe, to heal, and to rediscover the joy of simply living.”
Jabeur’s struggles were evident during the 2024 season. In June, she retired during her first-round match at Wimbledon, having also exited early at the French Open weeks earlier. After her Paris loss, she opened up about the psychological and physical toll of competing at the highest level, including the guilt and pressure many players endure.
“Pushing through injury I’ve been doing, like, my whole life,” she said. “The pressure from sponsors, the pressure from the ranking, the pressure of providing… some players provide for their families as well. It is a very tough sport.”
Jabeur, widely admired for her charisma and resilience, was a finalist at Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023, and at the US Open in 2022. Though she didn’t specify how long her break would last, fans and fellow players have flooded social media with messages of support as she steps away to prioritise her mental and physical health.
