Jabeur pauses: "Tennis is beautiful, but I'm no longer happy. I have to put myself first."

She came close to winning Wimbledon (2022 and 2023, losing the finals to Rybakina and Vondrousova ) and the US Open (2022, losing in the final to Swiatek). Now she's taking a break from tennis : we'll see if it's temporary or permanent. Ons Jabeur has decided to retire. The 30-year-old Tunisian tennis player, a symbol of her country and an ambassador for her sport on the African continent , communicated her decision to fans in a post on Instagram: "Over the past two years," Jabeur said, "I've given it my all, battling injuries and facing many other challenges. But deep down, it's been a while since I've felt truly happy on the court. Tennis is a beautiful sport. But right now, I feel like the time has come 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," the letter continues, "for your understanding. Your support and love mean the world to me. I will always carry them with me. Even though I'm away from the court, I will continue to stay close and connected to you in different ways, and I will share this journey with all of you."