The stage is set for the 2024 Western & Southern Open, however, are the players ready to rock the stage? We’ve already seen quite a few withdrawals from the tournament. Now, the Tunisian tennis star, Ons Jabeur, joins the list! She recently gave a sad update on her health confirming her withdrawal from the tournament.

Jabeur, not long ago, posted an update on her Instagram stories, she wrote, “I regret to inform you that, due to an aggravated shoulder injury, I will be unable to participate at the Cincinnati Open this year.” She further added, “Despite my best efforts to recover in time, playing in Toronto did not help, my current condition does not allow me to compete at the level required.” However, the 29-year-old tennis star assured the fans, “I am doing all my best to recover for the upcoming US Open in New York. Hugs, Ons.”

Jabeur has played only 31 matches so far this season. She was forced to give a walkover to Coco Gauff in the QF of the Grass Court Championships and then withdrew her name from the Citi Open. Although she came back in action at the Canadian Open, Jabeur made an early exit in that tournament after facing a defeat against Naomi Osaka in the R64. Has Jabeur gone past all her glorious days?

Even last year, we saw her struggle with injuries and this resulted in her limitation to training and competing at the highest level, week in and week out. She wants to deal with these persistent struggles patiently, but at times things could get really tricky for even the ‘Minister of Happiness‘. How does she look at this fight with what seems to be her strongest rival at the moment?

“Injuries and setbacks are part of your career” – Ons Jabeur

What if I tell you the ‘Minister of Happiness‘ in the tennis world is one of the unluckiest players on the women’s tour? She has reached three finals and three QFs at the major tournaments in her career but has failed to clinch a victory on all six occasions. The moment she felt she had finally gained some momentum to bring wind to her sail, injuries struck her out of nowhere. Reflecting on her thoughts on these setbacks during an interview in March this year, Jabeur said, “Injuries and setbacks are part of your career. When you sign up to be a professional tennis player, any professional athlete, you know that these things can happen.”

She further stated that it’s very important for all athletes to know how to manage these situations. Her sole advice on how to deal with these things is one needs to know the body and listen to the body. “Injuries are like your enemy, so keep your enemies closer. I like to think of it that way,” she added. A healthy Jabeur is truly a force to reckon with, but it’s quite unfortunate that she has to fight these battles off the court to step into it. She was also recently forced to withdraw her name from the Paris Olympics due to her injury concerns on the clay courts. Reflecting on the exact reason behind the decision, she said, “I must listen to my body.” What are your thoughts on the latest withdrawals from the Cincinnati Masters this year?