Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur has announced that she will not compete for the rest of the 2024 season due to a persistent shoulder injury.
Jabeur shared the news via her social media on Monday, confirming the difficult decision made in consultation with her medical team.
The world No. 22 has had a challenging year, plagued by multiple injuries that have significantly impacted her performance and schedule. Jabeur, who began the season ranked No. 6 in the world, saw her ranking slide as she was forced to withdraw from numerous tournaments, including the US Open and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Tunisian’s most recent match was a first-round loss to Naomi Osaka at the Canadian Open last month, after which she withdrew from the Cincinnati Open, the Washington Open, and the US Open without taking to the court. In her announcement, the 30-year-old Tunisian acknowledged her difficulties throughout the year.
“This year has been extremely hard for me, and as athletes, we know that recovery is part of the journey,” Jabeur wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Due to my ongoing shoulder injury, my medical team and I have made the difficult decision to step off the tennis circuit for the rest of the season.”
Jabeur’s physical struggles have extended beyond her shoulder injury. Earlier in the year, she was sidelined by a recurring right knee problem that had previously required surgery. This forced her to pull out of key tournaments, including the WTA 1000 event in Dubai and retire mid-match during her quarterfinal clash against Coco Gauff at the Berlin Open. Illness further compounded her difficulties, eventually withdrawing from Wimbledon and, most recently, the Paris Olympics.
The decision to end her season comes after months of trying to manage her injuries while competing. Jabeur’s shoulder injury resurfaced following her Canadian Open appearance, and despite being scheduled to play in subsequent tournaments, her condition worsened, prompting her decision to focus on recovery.
“While I’m taking time to heal, I’ll be dedicating myself to charity work and ensuring that we make a real difference in the world,” Jabeur added. “Thank you for all your support, and I can’t wait to come back stronger! I will see you back on the court in Australia 2025.”
Known for her creative playing style and charismatic presence on and off the court, Jabeur’s absence will be felt on the WTA Tour. In February, she suffered another emotional setback during a loss to Beatriz Haddad Maia at the Abu Dhabi Open, where she broke down in tears as an old knee injury resurfaced. Despite showing resilience throughout her career, 2024 has been particularly unforgiving for the Tunisian star.
and aims to come back stronger than ever.