Ons Jabeur will return to Abu Dhabi Open for the first time in over a year, to compete in the WTA 500 event held in the UAE's capital city.
The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open has been a mainstay on the women's calendar and is the first of three stops of the Middle East swing next February. It will commemorate its third edition in 2024 and has landed the most prominent Arab tennis player in the world.
Jabeur played in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Open in 2021 and reached the third round stage, where she lost to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. She was ranked just outside the world's Top 30 at the time and was embarking on the trajectory to become the player she is today.
Last year, she missed the tournament due to a knee injury and had to undergo a minor surgery that ruled her out from Doha and Dubai as well. It was very upsetting for Jabeur, who is such an icon and a trailblazer in the Arab world because of her Tunisian roots.
Jabeur played the Abu Dhabi exhibition during the close season in 2022 for a second time to compensate for her lost time. She defeated British No. 1 Emma Raducanu in three sets. The 29-year-old doesn't feature in this year's exhibition lineup in the Gulf sporting season.
But the good news for the Arab fans is that the tournament and Jabeur have confirmed her return to competition in the Middle East next year with main draw action in Abu Dhabi slated to begin on Monday, February 5, 2024, and that will boast a 28-player singles draw.
"Hi everyone, it's Ons Jabeur. I'll be going to the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open from the 3rd to 11th February. Tickets are on sale now. Don't miss out. And I'll see you soon there."
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