logo
Ons Jabeur, former world No. 2, announces break from tennis: 'I haven't truly felt happy on the court'

Ons Jabeur, former world No. 2, announces break from tennis: 'I haven't truly felt happy on the court'

Yahoo6 days ago
In 2022, Ons Jabeur was the No. 2-ranked women's tennis player. Just three years later, she's taking an extended break from the sport.
Jabeur announced her break on Instagram, saying she hasn't been happy on the court the past two years. Her full statement read:
"For the past two years, I've been pushing myself so hard, fighting through injuries and facing many other challenges. But deep down, I haven't truly felt 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."
After reaching No. 2 status in June of 2022, Jabeur finished out the year strong and performed well again in 2023. She was a quarterfinalist at the French Open that year and made it to the Wimbledon finals, where she lost to Markéta Vondroušová.
Since then, though, Jabeur has had a tough time at Grand Slams. She made it to the quarterfinals at the French Open again in 2024, but failed to progress past the third round at any other Grand Slam event in both 2024 and 2025.
Thanks to those early exits, Jabeur saw her ranking plummet to No. 71 prior to Thursday's announcement.
At 30, Jabeur still has plenty of time to return to the sport and play at a high level. Plenty of tennis players have stepped away from the game and come back stronger. Amanda Anisimova stepped away from the sport for mental-health reasons in 2023 and reached the Wimbledon final less than two years later.
It's unclear how long Jabeur will remain away from the sport. Given her age and ability, it wouldn't be a shock to see her turn in a few more impressive Grand Slam runs before she truly calls it a career.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Venus Williams Has Some Smashing News About Her Personal Life
Venus Williams Has Some Smashing News About Her Personal Life

Yahoo

time14 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Venus Williams Has Some Smashing News About Her Personal Life

A post-match interview with Venus Williams on Tuesday revealed that the 7-time Grand Slam singles winner is engaged to Andrea Preti, an actor and former model who was seeing her play in person for the first time. The juicy tidbit emerged as the former world No. 1 celebrated her victory over Peyton Stearns at the DC Open, making Williams, 45, the oldest player to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova did at age 47 in 2004. Williams had not played a match in well over a year. An on-court chat with interviewer Rennae Stubbs took a sweet gossipy turn when she said to Williams, 'You're now an engaged woman. So, how much has Andrea helped you in this comeback? You're happy, the smile on your face. I mean, how much has he made a difference in your life?' 'Yes, my fiancé is here,' Williams answered, prompting a spectator chorus of 'wooooo!' 'He really encouraged me to keep playing,' she added. 'There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? You guys don't know how much work goes into this, like it's 9 to 5 except you're running the whole time. Lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day. So he encouraged me to get through this and it's wonderful to be here. He's never seen me play.' Venus Williams on her fiancées support after getting 1st singles win since 2023'My fiancée is here. He really encouraged me to keep playing. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? It's 9 to 5 except you're running the whole time' 😭😭😭😭 — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 23, 2025 Here's Preti, 37, watching her post-match press conference: And here's the couple during Milan Fashion Week in February when the two fueled engagement whispers because Williams wore a diamond ring, according to People. Their relationship dates back to at least July 2024 when they were photographed on a boat off the Amalfi Coast, the outlet reported previously. Related... 45-Year-Old Venus Williams Becomes Second-Oldest Woman To Win A Tour-Level Singles Match These Young Tennis Titans Just Got A Shot Of Confidence From One Of The Best To Ever Do It Venus Williams Sure Sounds Like She's Retiring

Jannik Sinner rehires the fitness coach he fired for playing a role in his doping case
Jannik Sinner rehires the fitness coach he fired for playing a role in his doping case

Hamilton Spectator

time16 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Jannik Sinner rehires the fitness coach he fired for playing a role in his doping case

ROME (AP) — Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has rehired Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach nearly a year after firing him for his role in the top-ranked player's doping case. The move comes after Sinner recently removed fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio from his team. 'Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level,' a statement from Sinner's team said Wednesday. Last year, Sinner tested positive twice for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid in March; the case wasn't made public until August, shortly before the U.S. Open, which he ended up winning for the second of his four Grand Slam titles. He initially was completely cleared, based on the defense that he accidentally was exposed to the banned substance, Clostebol, via a massage from his then-physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Sinner said his fitness trainer at the time, Ferrara, purchased a product in Italy and gave it to Naldi for a cut on Naldi's finger. Naldi then treated Sinner while not wearing gloves. Sinner then fired Naldi and Ferrara, and Ferrara was hired briefly by Matteo Berrettini, another Italian player. The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the exoneration, and Sinner agreed to serve a three-month ban that ended right before the Italian Open in May of this year. Sinner, who won Wimbledon this month, will return to action at the Cincinnati Open next month as he prepares to defend his U.S. Open title. ___ AP tennis:

Venus rises: 45-year-old Venus Williams stuns at Citi Open after year-long hiatus
Venus rises: 45-year-old Venus Williams stuns at Citi Open after year-long hiatus

Yahoo

time19 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Venus rises: 45-year-old Venus Williams stuns at Citi Open after year-long hiatus

Oh, to be Venus Williams this week. To be 45 and beating women about half her age in both singles and doubles. To be 30 years into her professional tennis career and knocking off a solid up-and-comer and the 2022 NCAA singles champion in Peyton Stearns, the world No. 35. Williams, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, walked onto the stadium court at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. as the sun was setting but played as though it was rising on her career. She had not played a WTA Tour match since March of 2024. She had not won one since 2023. The WTA Tour website doesn't even list her as having a ranking. Yet there she was thumping forehands and backhands across the court on the way to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Stearns, who was shaky from the start against Williams, an icon not just of tennis, not just of women's sports, but of all sports. In some ways, Stearns was an ideal opponent for Williams: a big hitter prone to erratic play on big stages. And while the Citi Open in Washington's Rock Creek Park might not seem like a big stage, once Williams asked for and received a wild card entry into the tournament — and Stearns drew her in the first round — it became the sport's most-talked-about match during a relatively quiet week on the tour as the North American hard-court swing gets underway. On Monday, Williams partnered with Hailey Baptiste in a straight-sets doubles win. She hit the ball cleanly and covered her half of the court efficiently. Her partnership with Baptiste, a rising Black American 23-year-old, made for a good story. Her solid play generated a buzz. But could she do it in singles? Indeed she could. Williams, once an endorsement queen, wore a logo-free black dress and white visor and played uncomplicated tennis, smacking nine aces and attacking at the first strike. She and Stearns traded breaks of serve to start. But then Williams mostly took control, moving Stearns around enough to induce errors and pushing her back into the court. Only four rallies lasted beyond nine shots. Williams set up a set point with a big serve, then hit a kicker that Stearns could not get back to seal the first set at 6-3. Soon, she was up a break in the second set. She stumbled briefly, rattled by a foot fault call, and lost three consecutive games. In a flash Stearns was on the front foot and leading 3-1. But then Williams once more started stepping onto the court and taking the initiative, winning four straight games as the crowd exploded to rally behind her. Serving at 3-5, Stearns saved four match points, during a game that lasted more than 12 minutes, playing some of her best tennis with her back against the wall. But Williams buckled down and climbed out of a 0-30 hole in the next game. An ace got her back even. A big serve that Stearns returned long got her yet another match point that she frittered away with a double fault. Three points later, she had another shot to seal it. One more big serve that Stearns sent into the net and the night was hers. The arms rose in the air at her 819th career victory, and soon she began spinning in the center of the court. 'Venus, Venus, Venus,' Rennae Stubbs said to her during the on-court interview. 'We were living and dying together,' she said to the crowd. Williams isn't the oldest woman to win a WTA Tour singles match. Martina Navratilova won at 47 in 2004. Still, beating No. 35 at 45 — not bad. 'It's just about putting it all together,' she said. 'I wanted to play a good match and win the match.' Williams said her fiance, Italian film star Andrea Preti, encouraged her to try to come back. It was hard but worth it. She next faces Magdalena Fręch of Poland. (Photo: Geoff Burke / Imagn Images) This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Tennis, Women's Tennis 2025 The Athletic Media Company

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store