Tearful Ons Jabeur retires from first-round match at Wimbledon against Viktoriya Tomova as 'very tough' season continues

Two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur was in tears as she retired from her first-round match at the Grand Slam against Viktoriya Tomova. Jabeur was taken off court for treatment in the first set and then returned to play on, but ended the contest in the second set. "I'm pretty sad. It doesn't really help me with my confidence," said Jabeur, who has fallen to No. 59 in the world rankings.

A tearful Ons Jabeur retired from her first-round Wimbledon match against Viktoriya Tomova as her "very tough" 2025 season continued.

Two-time Wimbledon runner-up Jabeur broke down in tears as she took a medical timeout following a lengthy fifth game in sweltering heat.

Jabeur had an ice pack placed around her neck and had her blood pressure taken before she was taken off court for treatment.

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She returned 14 minutes later and fought back from 4-2 down to earn a set point in the opening set.

However, Jabeur couldn't convert and lost the set on a tie-breaker before retiring while trailing 7-6(5) 2-0.

"I wasn't expecting not to feel good. I have been practising pretty well the last few days," said Jabeur in a statement.

"These things happen. I'm pretty sad. It doesn't really help me with my confidence."

Former world No. 2 Jabeur made the Wimbledon final in 2022 and 2023, as well as the US Open final in 2022.

Ons Jabeur looked emotional during her first-round match at Wimbledon 2025

Image credit: Getty Images

But she has fallen down the rankings over the past year as she has struggled with various health-related issues.

At the Australian Open, she was in tears as she struggled with breathing difficulties, before retiring from her third-round match at the Miami Open due to a leg issue.

"I keep pushing myself even though it was a very tough season for me, so I hope I can feel better and see what is going to happen," said Jabeur, who has fallen to No. 59 in the world rankings.

"Try to disconnect a little bit from tennis and try to enjoy life outside tennis. Try to recover and spend time with the family. Hopefully that can recharge me. Definitely rest is the word for it."

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Jabeur said ahead of Wimbledon that she had "no expectations" for the Grand Slam and her biggest challenge was being "mentally ready".

"It's always, I think, mentally," she told The National. "Because if you're mentally ready and want to do everything, I think it's easier to overcome any physical struggle or anything.

"But yeah, being on and off didn't help much. The ability of believing in myself that I can come back like before, it's been a bit low and that really affected me.

"So yeah, it’s just about a lot of believing in myself more than ever because coming back at a certain level, it's never easy. So I hope I can overcome that.

"Sometimes two, three matches will give you the confidence and the ability to know that you can do it.

"Right now, I need to trust more my body. I need to hopefully get better on the court and find my movements."

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