World No.3 Ons Jabeur has been left heartbroken after announcing she is taking time off from tennis to undergo “minor surgery”. The Tunisian rose to No.2 in the world rankings last year after reaching the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open.
However, the 28-year-old was unable to build on that strong finish to 2022 at the start of this year, after being bundled out of the Australian Open in devastating scenes.
Cameras captured a shattered Jabeur slumped on the floor of the players’ tunnel after a shock 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 loss to Czech World No. 86 Marketa Vondrousova in the second round at Melbourne Park.
It later emerged that the Tunisian was suffering from a knee injury and would need “time to recover and get healthier”. She has not been seen on the WTA Tour since.
Jabeur was set to return at next week’s Qatar Open, and the Tunisian was looking forward to a reunion with fans in the Middle East, with the Dubai Tennis Championships to follow. However, the 28-year-old has taken to social media to announce she’s taking time out of the sport to undergo minor surgery.
Ons Jabeur will undergo minor surgery and has withdrawn from Doha and Dubai pic.twitter.com/ZyL2bCYyo2
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 8, 2023
“In order to take care of my health situation, my medical team have decided that I need to get a minor surgery in order to be back on the courts and perform well,” she wrote. “I will have to retire from Doha and Dubai, and this is breaking my heart.
“I would like to say sorry to all the fans out there in the Middle East that waited for this reunion. I promise I will come back to you stronger and healthy.”
Jabeur’s update has left fans gutted for the popular star. Supporters have taken to social media to wish the 28-year-old a speedy recovery, hoping she returns to the court stronger later in 2023.
Ons Jabeur withdraws from Doha and Dubai ????
Get well soon habibi ???? pic.twitter.com/KgFtBqWjmm
— Elhoussaine Boussaid (@BoussidHoussine) February 8, 2023
"This is breaking my heart." ????@Ons_Jabeur shared on social media that she will not compete at Doha or Dubai in order to have a "minor" surgery.
Here's to a quick recovery, Ons! ????https://t.co/PU4ttLkTi9
— TENNIS (@Tennis) February 8, 2023
Ons Jabeur in tears after Australian Open exit
Jabeur was visibly upset after suffering her shock second round loss to Vondrousova at the Australian Open. Eurosport tennis experts Tim Henman and Barbara Shett admitted the post-match scenes surrounding the Tunisian were confronting for viewers.
“It was distressing for everyone to see,” Henman said on Eurosport’s Australian Open coverage. “She had been out there on court giving it everything.
???? Ons Jabeur luego de quedar eliminada del #AusOpen2023 pic.twitter.com/0qQQfzuGpz
— BATennis (@BATennisCom) January 19, 2023
“She was the No. 2 seed, she was playing on the stadium court, it was difficult conditions. Not only was it cold and heavy, but it was also 01:00 [local time] in the morning there.
It was just so unfortunate she has gone out in these circumstances, but we all wish her well and if she was not feeling her best, she makes a swift recovery.”
Schett added: “You could see the disappointment on Ons Jabeur’s face as well. We know she had a bit of a knee problem when I spoke to her.
“She said she was taking so many pills, but then also her game today didn’t work out at all. The conditions were very slow.
“She was just taking it all in I guess – disappointment and everything coming out. She wanted to do some damage this year at this Grand Slam and it obviously didn’t work out.
“When I was watching her in the first round, she was rusty out there, she could not create any pace, any power, and she was lacking in that.”
