Former World No. 2 to Take a Break from Tennis: "I Feel It's Time to Step Back and Put Myself First"

Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur, 30, has announced she's taking a break from competitive tennis, citing a recent lack of happiness on the court. The Tunisian player's post sparked numerous reactions, with several fellow players expressing their support and offering kind words.

At the end of June, Jabeur, a finalist at Wimbledon in both 2022 and 2023, was forced to retire from her first-round match against Viktoriya Tomova, ranked 105th, trailing 7-6 (5), 2-0.

Two and a half weeks later, the 30-year-old announced on social media that she would be stepping away from tennis to prioritize her well-being.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka reacted immediately: "We'll miss you!" Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova also sent her love, and Paula Badosa, who's also having a challenging year, wrote, "Habibi! I love you and I'll miss you so much!"

Romanian player Gabriela Ruse, 27, also sent a message to Jabeur via Instagram: "I love you so much!"

Hailing from Ksar Hellal, Tunisia, Ons Jabeur began her professional career in 2010 and, 12 years later, reached her career-high ranking of world number two. In 2022, she reached the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open, and a year later, she made another appearance in the Wimbledon final.

Throughout her career, Jabeur has won five titles and amassed over $14 million in prize money.