Jabeur had disclosed prior to the tournament that she was still grappling with an injury. The Tunisian sensation has been dealing with physical limitations throughout the season but has persevered in order to not disappoint her loyal supporters. “Unfortunately, Ons Jabeur has had to withdraw from this year’s competition,” stated the tournament organizers in an official declaration. “We understand the significance of this event for her, playing in front of a passionate Arab fanbase. We send her our best wishes for a speedy recovery and eagerly anticipate her return to Dubai in the near future.”
Jabeur suffered defeats in the quarterfinals of the Abu Dhabi Open against Beatriz Haddad Maia, in the Australian Open’s Round of 2 against Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva, and in the opening round of the Qatar Open against Lesia Tsurenko. It was evident that the injury was impeding Jabeur during her match against Haddad Maia, leaving her visibly frustrated. She has consistently displayed signs of discomfort and has finally made the decision to take the necessary break to regain her peak form. “My dear friends and family, I wanted to inform you all that my knee is not holding up. It has become unbearable to play with the pain and not being able to give my best on the court is incredibly frustrating,” Jabeur stated in an official announcement. “After consulting with my doctors and team, we have concluded that I will have to withdraw from Dubai this week and undergo further medical treatments. I am eagerly looking forward to reconnecting with all of you on the courts during the US swing. Thank you for your unwavering support. Love you, Ons.”
This setback will undoubtedly be disappointing for Jabeur, who had to miss the competitions in Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi last year due to surgery for an enlarged nodule that prevented her from traveling. After receiving a bye in the first round, the three-time Grand Slam finalist was set to face a qualifier in the second round. However, it became apparent that she would not recover sufficiently, leading her to make the decision to withdraw. Jabeur has not provided a specific timeline for her return, although she seems determined to avoid surgery and may focus on rehabilitating this issue for an extended period of time. The wording of her announcement suggests that she may participate in the Sunshine Double.
Read more: Ons Jabeur opens up about her fitness struggles ahead of Dubai Tennis Championships.
According to the Source tennis365.com