Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has regrettably announced her withdrawal from the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai, citing “unbearable pain” in her right knee. This decision comes after a challenging start to the 2024 season, marked by a second-round exit at the Australian Open and subsequent struggles during the Middle East swing.
Jabeur, who initially showed promise in Abu Dhabi by defeating Emma Raducanu, faced a setback when Beatriz Haddad Maia handed her a 6-3, 6-4 loss in the quarterfinals. During that match, Jabeur visibly struggled with pain, breaking down in tears at one point. Despite the setback, she opted to compete in Doha the following week but suffered a disappointing loss to Lesia Tsurenko in her opening match.
The decision to participate in Dubai, despite evident difficulties in the previous tournaments, proved too challenging for Jabeur. In a heartfelt statement on her Instagram Story, she expressed the frustration of playing through pain and the inability to deliver her best performance on the court. The decision to withdraw was made after consultation with her medical team, and Jabeur will now undergo further treatments to address the persistent knee issue.
Jabeur’s absence from Dubai marks a missed opportunity for the 29-year-old, who would have made her sixth main draw appearance in the tournament. Notably, her best result in Dubai came in 2022 when she reached the quarterfinals, eventually falling to Simona Halep.
Looking ahead, Jabeur expresses optimism about returning to the courts for the upcoming US swing. The focus will now be on her recovery and receiving the necessary medical attention to ensure a strong comeback. Tennis enthusiasts eagerly await her potential participation in the Indian Wells tournament scheduled for early March.
As Jabeur navigates this challenging period, her fans and the tennis community extend their continuous support, wishing her a swift recovery and a triumphant return to competitive play.
