The “mission” continues for Ons Jabeur! After missing out on Grand Slam titles twice earlier this year, Jabeur was determined to turn things around at Wimbledon. Having reached the finals in the last two editions, she faced disappointment again, falling short in the third round to Elina Svitolina. Winning a major title has become a “life mission” for the former world number 2. Though disappointed, her husband, Karim Kamoun, and her best friend on the Tour, Paula Badosa, offered her words of encouragement.

Ons Jabeur’s win-loss record of 16-13 this season can be attributed to her ongoing knee pain. She is yet to win a title this year. To comfort her, her husband recently posted on Instagram, sharing images of Jabeur and writing, “Always remember that you’re a Champion no matter what. We continue our mission.” Jabeur responded with “I love you” and Paula Badosa added a ‘heart‘ emoji, highlighting the strong support system around her.

Karim Kamoun, who also serves as Jabeur’s trainer, has been a constant support. The couple married in 2015 and began working together in 2017. In a 2020 interview with GQ Middle East, Jabeur revealed how Kamoun sent her his salary to cover her travel expenses during the tour. After her Wimbledon final losses in 2022 and 2023, he shared heartfelt messages of encouragement.

In 2022, Kamoun hailed Jabeur as a “true champion,” highlighting her grit, sacrifice, determination, and passion on the court. In 2023, he became more emotional, revealing he cried “like a baby” after her loss but remained confident as she was on the “right track.” The 29-year-old Tunisian tennis star is a perfect example of how much dedication and sacrifice are required to excel in this highly competitive tennis world.

“The idea of having a baby just vanished” – Ons Jabeur speaks about her 2023 Wimbledon loss

Jabeur’s 2023 Wimbledon final defeat to Marketa Vondrousova by 4-6,4-6 was emotionally devastating for her. Reflecting on the match, Jabeur revealed, “It was the toughest loss of my career because emotionally it destroyed me, not only winning Wimbledon, but the idea of having a baby just vanished with the trophy of Wimbledon.” However, looking at other tennis moms like Elina Svitolina and Naomi Osaka, Jabeur is now more motivated.

The importance of motivation and encouragement from fellow players cannot be overstated. Paula Badosa cherishes her close friendships with Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka, saying, “I feel like it’s very important. It’s a very pure relationship that we have between us and it’s very real. Even if we are competitors in the end, we will compete for 2 hours and then we will know how to separate things. It’s nice to have this support.”

Tennis players endure many challenges throughout their careers, and Paula Badosa believes it’s extremely helpful to empathize with others. She feels it’s “great” to have these kinds of supportive relationships on the Tour.