Prayers Pouring In for Women’s Tennis Star Ons Jabeur After Painful Wimbledon Retirement

The Wimbledon season has officially kicked off! Players are battling for a spot among the elites at the third Grand Slam of the year. On the WTA side, Barbora Krejčíková stands tall as the defending champion after last year’s win over Jasmine Paolini. Other finalists are gearing up to make their mark, including Ons Jabeur. But sadly, Jabeur’s run was cut short, leaving fans heartbroken to see the two-time finalist bow out early.

On Monday, June 30, Jabeur began her opening match against Viktoriya Tomova. But just 26 minutes in, she had to step off for a medical timeout! Medics led her off the court after a tough stretch where she saved nine game points at 2-2 but then lost a marathon 10-minute game to trail 3-2. After a 14-minute break, Jabeur bravely returned to fight on in front of a packed Court 14, one of the smaller venues at SW19. However, early into the second set, she called it quits. Uh oh!

An X user reported the heartbreaking moment, tweeting, “Sadly, Ons Jabeur retires from the match…Viktoriya Tomova advances at 7-6(5), 2-0.” The cause of Jabeur’s breakdown remains unclear, but the brutal humidity at the All England Club might be to blame. Temperatures soared to a record 34C on Monday, the hottest opening day ever. A fan later added, “It’s heart-wrenching seeing Ons Jabeur go through this over and over again. Her body just isn’t holding up…” And they’re not alone in their pain.

Fans flooded social media, expressing their sadness over the former World No. 2’s struggles. After reaching three Grand Slam finals—Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023, and the 2022 US Open—it’s tough to see her exit in the first round like this. One fan summed it up perfectly: “Sad to see Ons Jabeur going out in the manner that she did #Wimbledon.”

Back in 2022, Jabeur made history as the first Arab and African woman in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam final. Her aggressive yet artful style captivated fans worldwide. Though she fell short in both Wimbledon finals—losing to Elena Rybakina in 2022 (3-6, 6-2, 6-2) and Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 (6-4, 6-4)—her consistent deep runs and ability to topple top players cemented her as a true contender at SW19.

Ons Jabeur had hoped to shake off a rocky 2025 season. She reached the quarterfinals in most tournaments but struggled in her last two Grand Slams at the Australian Open and French Open, exiting in the third round and first round, respectively. Fans are still reeling from her early departure from this prestigious event, hoping she bounces back stronger next time.

Fans share their sorrows for Ons Jabeur

Seeing the Tunisian walk off the court was tough to watch. One fan wrote, “I hope whatever Ons Jabeur is going through comes to a swift end. It’s been a tough few months for her and she’s just retired from her R1 match. Tennis needs her. #Wimbledon.” Jabeur’s popularity goes beyond her results—she’s a trailblazer. She’s the highest-ranked African and Arab player in WTA and ATP history, reaching a career-high No. 2 on June 27, 2022.

Not only that, Ons has reached three Grand Slam singles finals—Wimbledon 2022, US Open 2022, and Wimbledon 2023—making her the first African and Arab woman to contest a major singles final. She has five WTA Tour singles titles, including the prestigious WTA 1000 Madrid Open in 2022, where she became the first Arab or African woman to win a WTA 1000 event. Her game is a joy to watch, full of crafty shots and skillful drop shots that keep fans hooked.

Another fan shared, “Ons Jabeur is forced to retire from her match against Viktoriya Tomova. It feels like she has spent the last couple years losing a fight against her own body in slow motion. Very unfortunate.” Even Ons was caught off guard by the injury. After the match, she said she “wasn’t expecting” any issues after “practising very well the last few days.”

The former world No. 2 has had a rough 2025, exiting the French Open in the first round. Her best result this year was reaching the quarterfinals in Doha, Qatar. Injuries have been a major hurdle. A shoulder injury ended her 2024 season early, and she strained a leg muscle at the Miami Open this spring. “I’m pretty sad, it really doesn’t really help with my confidence and what I keep pushing myself to do even though it was a very tough season for me,” Jabeur added. “I hope I can feel better and see what is going to happen.”

One fan summed it up perfectly: “Ons Jabeur is going through a very tough period. She’s never been the same since that loss to Marketa Vondrousova two years ago. I hope she regains her confidence and fitness.” It’s a hard truth for the three-time Grand Slam finalist. But maybe she’ll come back stronger and hungrier to win. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!