Heartbreak for Ons Jabeur as Wimbledon Campaign Ends Early
Ons Jabeur’s Wimbledon journey came to a devastating halt on Monday morning when the two-time finalist was forced to retire from her opening match against Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova. The Tunisian tennis sensation played for less than thirty minutes before health concerns prompted her withdrawal.
The match unfolded under sweltering conditions at SW19, with temperatures soaring to 29°C by 11:30 AM and expected to peak at 33°C throughout the day. Jabeur was trailing 3-2 in the first set when a medical timeout was called. This unfortunate incident marked her first opening-round exit at Wimbledon since 2019, significantly impacting her aspirations of finally clinching a Grand Slam title.
At just 29 years old, Jabeur appeared visibly upset during the medical pause, breaking down in tears while awaiting assistance. Medical professionals conducted blood pressure checks before she left the court for further treatment. After a brief 14-minute delay, during which Tomova stayed on the court to stay warm, Jabeur made an attempt to continue.
However, despite returning after her examination, she struggled to regain her competitive edge. Tomova claimed the first set in a tiebreak, and just two games into the second set, with Tomova leading 2-0, Jabeur found herself unable to continue, ultimately retiring from the match.
This unexpected withdrawal granted Tomova a walkover victory, allowing her to advance to face British No. 3 Sonay Kartal in the next round. For Jabeur, this retirement adds another chapter of disappointment in her quest for Grand Slam glory. She reached consecutive Wimbledon finals in 2022 and 2023 but fell short on both occasions.
In 2022, Jabeur faced Elena Rybakina in the championship match, winning the first set but eventually losing 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. She returned to the final the following year, only to suffer a straight-sets defeat to Marketa Vondrousova.
Jabeur’s Grand Slam heartbreak isn’t limited to Wimbledon; she also finished as the runner-up at the 2022 US Open, losing to Iga Swiatek. Despite her remarkable achievements of reaching three Grand Slam finals, the Tunisian star is still in pursuit of her first major title.
Stay tuned for more updates on Jabeur’s journey and other Wimbledon news!
