Tennis player Ons Jabeur withdraws from the US Open and announces a pause from her professional career.
Ons Jabeur, the three-time Grand Slam finalist from Tunisia, has announced an indefinite break from professional tennis to prioritize her mental and physical health [1][2][3][4][5]. The 28-year-old, who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2, shared her decision through a heartfelt social media post, expressing gratitude to her fans for their support and love.
Over the past year, Jabeur has faced numerous challenges that have affected her health and performance. A shoulder injury prematurely ended her 2024 season, while recurring injuries and breathing difficulties, related to her asthma condition, have plagued her 2025 campaign [1][2]. Most recently, at Wimbledon 2025, she was forced to retire during her first-round match after a lengthy medical timeout [1][2]. These challenges have resulted in a drop in her ranking to No. 71 in the WTA rankings [1].
Jabeur has openly discussed the impact of these difficulties on her wellbeing. She admitted that the past year has been tough for her and that she hasn't felt happy on the court for some time. She wants to take a step back to put herself first, heal, and rediscover the joy of living [2].
In addition to physical recovery, Jabeur aims to address her self-belief issues and avoid carrying the disappointment from her past performances into future tournaments. She plans to stay connected with her fans and share her journey with them, even while she is away from the court [2].
Jabeur's break from tennis comes after a series of heartbreaking losses. She suffered defeats in the finals at Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023, and at the 2022 US Open. Her exit from the French Open at the first round in May and her retirement from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships due to health issues further highlighted the challenges she has faced [1].
During this break, Jabeur plans to repeat positive words to herself to help overcome her struggles and rebuild her confidence. She hopes to return to the court when she feels ready and able to compete at her best [2].
References: [1] BBC Sport. (2025, July 1). Ons Jabeur takes break from tennis for health reasons. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/59809050 [2] The Guardian. (2025, July 1). Ons Jabeur steps back from tennis to prioritise mental and physical health. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/01/ons-jabeur-steps-back-from-tennis-to-prioritise-mental-and-physical-health [3] Sky Sports. (2025, July 1). Ons Jabeur steps back from tennis to prioritise mental and physical health. Sky Sports. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/13016/12561126/ons-jabeur-steps-back-from-tennis-to-prioritise-mental-and-physical-health [4] ESPN. (2025, July 1). Ons Jabeur steps away from tennis for mental and physical health. ESPN. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/34830759/ons-jabeur-steps-away-tennis-mental-physical-health [5] Tennis World USA. (2025, July 1). Ons Jabeur Steps Away from Tennis to Focus on Mental and Physical Health. Tennis World USA. Retrieved from https://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/articles/77184/613933/ons-jabeur-steps-away-from-tennis-to-focus-on-mental-and-physical-health.html
- After facing a series of health and performance challenges, which included a drop in her world rankings, Ons Jabeur, the three-time Grand Slam finalist, announced an indefinite break from professional tennis to prioritize her mental and physical health.
- In addition to physical recovery, Jabeur aims to address her self-belief issues and plans to share her journey with her fans, even while she is away from the sport of tennis.
- While the news may impact the world of sports, particularly tennis, Jabeur's decision to prioritize her health demonstrates a focus on sports-analysis and features that go beyond the scorelines and highlight the human aspects of professional sports.
