Tunisian WTA star Ons Jabeur may be off the tennis court for now but she remains a dedicated advocate for players’ rights. Despite ending her 2024 season in August due to injuries, Jabeur attended the WTA Finals in Riyadh as a guest showing that she was never far from the sport she loves. With her opinion following ITF’s recent cancellation of events in December, Jabeur once again proves her passion for tennis with an underlying commitment to her colleagues. So, what did she say?
Jabeur played her final tournament of the season in the 2024 National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Canada, where she lost against Naomi Osaka in the Round of 64. This loss marked the end of a difficult season as the three-time Grand Slam finalist announced in September that she would sit out the remainder of the season due to a persistent shoulder injury. After consulting with her medical team, Jabeur made the difficult decision to withdraw, a choice that came after a series of injuries impacted her performance. Her ranking, which was at no. 2, steadily declined as she had to pull out of multiple tournaments.
In the Tennis world, attending tournaments is essential for maintaining a high ranking and when injuries force players to withdraw, they need to compensate for the lost opportunities. However, the cancellation of December’s ITF tournaments only added to players’ challenges. Jabeur, known to advocate for colleagues, expressed her opinion about this decision.
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The Tunisian player took to her official X platform and wrote, “Monastir where I do my preparation is a Tennis heaven with future champions playing ITF events. Shocked to see that events have been cancelled in December! Players are struggling already and They are working hard to get their ranking up! Care to explain @ITFTennis @HaggertyTennis?” Jabeur’s statement highlighted the impact of these cancellations when the season is about to end. Alongside her statement, Jabeur shared a copy of a letter signed by many players urging the ITF committee to clarify the status of the Monastir Tournaments in December.
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Jabeur’s tweet reflected her personal disappointment in missing the WTA Tour Finals’ first edition in Saudi Arabia. Although she attended the tournament as a significant Arab tennis personality, there was a hint of lingering regret. While she recognized the tournament as a great milestone for women’s sports, the pain of being sidelined from the court for long was hard to forget.
Ons Jabeur was “not very happy” about her absence from the 2024 WTA Tour Finals in Riyadh
Jabeur expressed great happiness to have women’s tennis in Saudi Arabia and said, “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.” Alongside her happiness, Jabeur expressed disappointment about her absence from the tournament in her interview with Arab News. “’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,” she said.
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However, the Tunisian player agreed that she listened to her body, something she should have done before. She revealed how as an athlete, she tried to push her limits. Now, she is compensating for that with her dedicated rehabilitation process.
Ons Jabeur’s 2024 season was full of ups and downs. However, she showcased a great spirit. Despite taking a break from tournaments, Jabeur’s advocacy for her colleague’s rights didn’t stop at any moment. With sheer resilience and spirit, Jabeur has proven to be an asset for the tennis fraternity waiting to unleash her magic for the upcoming season.