Ons Jabeur has been away from the tennis courts for quite some time, and she regrets not doing that earlier.
The Tunisian player is one of the most talented hitters on the WTA Tour, but she didn't get to show it in 2024. Jabeur finished the last three seasons in the Top 10, even ending the 2022 season as the World No. 2 player.
This year, however, she struggled with injuries, and that prompted her to end the 2024 season early. In September, the 30-year-old announced her decision, which came only a month after her first-round defeat to Naomi Osaka at the Canadian Open in Toronto.
Prior to that, Jabeur withdrew from her second-round match at the Citi Open and didn't get to enjoy the hard-court swing in North America or the following Asian Swing.
Despite being away from the courts at the moment, as an ambassador for tennis in the Middle East, Jabeur was present at the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, participating in multiple events for fans.
During her stay in Saudi Arabia, she also spoke to Arab News, sharing her delight about the WTA Finals being held in Riyadh.
"I’m very happy to be here in Riyadh, the WTA Finals is happening here. I think it’s a great thing for women’s sport, for Arab women’s sport as well. It’s the biggest event that ever happened for women in Saudi. It’s an amazing step."
Of course, while happy to be in Riyadh, Jabeur was not happy to be there only as a spectator. Still, she sees it as a motivation to return as a player next year.
"I’m not very happy that I’m not playing, but also at the same time I’m happy that I’m here to check everything out. It will be my motivation to qualify for next year."
Jabeur seems to be motivated for her comeback, which she wants to happen at the 2025 Australian Open. She is eager to return to the courts but also said that she should have made the decision to step away for some time earlier.
"I had time to rest my shoulder, I’m feeling much better than before. It allowed me to also recover mentally. It’s been a tough couple of years going on tour, so to breathe in for a couple of months was really awesome and I can’t wait to come back in Australia."
"I’m ready and very motivated and honestly hungry to play matches. I feel 2025 is going to be an amazing year I listened to my body for sure. I should have done that way before. But as a professional tennis player, as an athlete, you always try to push yourself to do more."
Still, the Tunisian player sees it as a learning experience. She was happy to learn this lesson earlier than later.
"For me, it was a bit tough, and thankfully it wasn’t too late to stop and take a break. I’ve learned with my experience and definitely still learning."
"The most important thing that I have learned is how to listen to my body and to know when to stop, when to take a break. And it’s okay to take a month or two off because it will help you have a deep breath and push for the next tournaments."
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