Ons Jabeur releases ‘step back’ statement after latest injury heartbreak at Wimbledon
Ons Jabeur has announced that she will be taking a hiatus from professional tennis after admitting she had not “truly felt happy” for several months.
Former world No 2 Jabeur previously ended her 2024 season early last summer, announcing in September she would not play until the following year after a string of injury issues.
However, the Tunisian has continued to struggle throughout 2025, culminating in an opening-round retirement at Wimbledon this year.
Twice a finalist at the All England Club, the 31-year-old was trailing Viktoriya Tomova 7-6(5), 2-0 when she was forced to call it quits due to breathing difficulties.
Jabuer has a 15-15 win-loss record for 2025 and has fallen down to 71st in the WTA Rankings, having already dropped from a year-end ranking of No 6 in 2023 to No 42 by the end of 2024.
Taking to social media on Thursday afternoon, the Tunisian trailblazer released a statement in which she revealed she wanted to “rediscover” the joy in her life.
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She wrote: “For the past two years, I’ve been pushing myself so hard, fighting through injuries, and facing many other challenges.
“But deep down, I haven’t truly felt happy on the court for some time now.
“Tennis is such a beautiful sport. But right now, I feel it’s time to take a step back and finally put myself first: to breathe, to heal, and to rediscover the joy of simply living.
“Thank you to all my fans for understanding. Your support and love mean the world to me. I carry it with me always.
“Even while I’m away from the court, I’ll continue to stay close and connected in different ways, and share this journey with you.”
Jabeur’s statement comes after a two-year cycle in which the three-time Grand Slam finalist has struggled with both physical and mental aspects of the sport.
After losing the 2022 Wimbledon final to Elena Rybakina, and the US Open final that same summer to Iga Swiatek, the Tunisian was considered the favourite to beat Marketa Vondrousova in the Wimbledon final in 2023.
However, Jabeur was visibly nervous during the match and would describe her third Grand Slam final defeat as the “most painful” of her career.
Despite reaching a second straight quarter-final at the French Open in 2024, the Tunisian’s form has dipped notably in recent seasons.
She has won five WTA Tour titles and reached a further eight finals in her career, though has not reached a final since winning the Ningbo Open in 2023.
Jabeur dealt with a recurring knee injury during parts of 2023, and it was a shoulder injury that forced her out of the US Open last summer, and ultimately saw her curtail her season early.
Speaking in 2024, the Tunisian, the highest-ranked African player in WTA Tour history, revealed the “extra sadness” that her loss to Vondrousova had forced her to delay her dream of starting a family.
The Tunisian has offered no timeframe as to if or when she will return to action, though it seems likely she will not compete until 2026 at the earliest.
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