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Braving Through the US Open Battling Illness, WTA Star Ons Jabeur Opens Up on a Grueling Examination of Her Unrelenting Strength

Published 09/04/2023, 3:06 AM EDT

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The 29-year-old tennis star, Ons Jabeur, is battling in the US Open; not just against some of the best players in the world, but also with her deteriorating health. The fifth-seeded tennis player, in the very first round of the tournament, suffered a sudden medical condition. This has limited her chances of bagging her first Grand Slam title at the ongoing US Open.

But now that she has made it to the fourth round of the tournament, the Tunisian tennis player has shown her warrior spirit and continues to radiate positivism. And all this while simultaneously undergoing recovery from her illness.

Ons Jabeur radiates optimism despite a crippling health setback 

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It’s been a tough week for the former world number two at the US Open. With temperatures and humidity levels soaring in New York, Jabeur was visibly struggling on the court. However, that didn’t stop her from advancing to the fourth round.

After winning the third round against Marie Bouzková, she talked about how she was not ready to give up on the last Grand Slam tournament of the year. During the post-match press conference, reported by Eurosport, she said even though she was struggling with her health; she was ready to test her limits.

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USA Today via Reuters

Talking about her on-court struggles, she said, “I’m testing myself. I love fighting, I trust my body. I know I can go all the way playing three sets, no problem. Let’s see. This is a fun tournament. Not fun starting being sick. I feel like this tournament is testing me and showing me that I have a lot of strength, that I can go really far and maybe have a great result here.”

Badly Struggling With ‘Mystery’ Sickness, WTA Star Ons Jabeur Confesses to Nasty Tactic To Keep US Open Opponent at Bay

Although Jabeur managed to overcome the health scare, her fans will be undoubtedly worried about her fourth-round match against Qinwen Zheng. So, what happened to the fifth-ranked tennis player that resulted in such uncertain circumstances?

Ons Jabeur’s deteriorating health is a major concern

During the first-round battle against Camila Osorio, the 29-year-old Tunisian star suffered sudden breathlessness. Jabeur had her blood pressure monitored in the middle of the match. Her flu-like symptoms and history of asthma only made matters more serious. Tennis is a very physically demanding sport and many watching were concerned for her health beyond the outcome of the match.

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Many believe her incredible drop-shot ability was born out of necessity and a tendency to not drag out points and empty her gas tank. While this may not be the case it is definitely a great tool to have in your arsenal considering cardio is crucial in long drawn-out tennis rallies. Jabeur certainly makes it seem like she’s fit as a fiddle when we watch her play.

According to Eurosport, after the third-round victory, the 2022 & 2023 Wimbledon finalist highlighted how she was battling through the tournament while taking a lot of medications to recover from her illness. In a show of resilience, even after struggling with a lot of ups and downs, Jabeur is not ready to give up on her Grand Slam chances. Coming away with the all-important victory.

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What do you think—will she succeed at this Grand Slam? Post your comments in the space provided below.

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Written by:

Pratishtha Prakash

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Pratishtha Prakash is a Tennis writer at EssentiallySports. She has completed her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media and Journalism from MIT ADT University, Pune. Being a sports enthusiast, she has been following varied sports like tennis, cricket and Esports from her childhood.
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Edited by:

Vishav