Former world No. 2 Ons Jabeur steps back from tennis to ‘rediscover the joy of simply living’
The two-time Wimbledon finalist said in a statement on her social media that she has not “felt happy on the court for some time now” and believes it is time to “take a step back and finally put (herself) first”.
Jabeur retired from her first-round match against Viktoriya Tomova at The All England Club this year due to injury. She was a set and a break behind when she shook hands with the Bulgarian after calling for a medical time-out.
Thank you for your support 🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/AiffrjDzU0
— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) July 17, 2025
The 30-year-old reached the finals of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2022 before again getting to the final at The All England Club a year later. The straight sets defeat by Markéta Vondroušová in 2023 was described by Jabeur as the most painful of her career.
The 2025 season has seen Jabeur knocked out of the French Open in the first round, after she was forced to end her season last year early due to a shoulder injury. Her injury problems recurred as she strained a leg muscle in this year’s Miami Open.
She did not indicate in her announcement when she would return to tennis.
“For the past two years, I’ve been pushing myself so hard, fighting through injuries and facing many other challenges,” her message said. “But deep down, I haven’t felt truly 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 all.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Tennis, Women's Tennis
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