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'Breaking my heart' - Ons Jabeur reveals surgery and pulls out of WTA Tour events in Doha and Dubai
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Published 08/02/2023 at 10:33 GMT
A heartbroken Ons Jabeur opened up to her fans on social media on Wednesday by disclosing that she will have to undergo surgery following her frustrating second-round defeat at the Australian Open. "In order to take care of my health situation, my medical team have decided that I need to get a minor surgery in order to be able to be back on the courts and perform well," Jabeur posted on Instagram.
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Ons Jabeur has released a statement revealing that she is to undergo surgery "in order to take care of my health situation" after the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
The 28-year-old, who enjoyed a year to remember in 2022 as she reached No. 2 in the world rankings in June and progressed through to the finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open.
Jabeur struggled at the Australian Open and did not look herself as she slumped to a second-round defeat to Marketa Vondrousova on Rod Laver Arena as the second seed.
On Wednesday, the Tunisian wrote about her situation on social media with an update that she said "is breaking my heart" as she has to withdraw from the WTA events in Doha and Dubai.
"In order to take care of my health situation, my medical team have decided that I need to get a minor surgery in order to be able to be back on the courts and perform well," Jabeur posted on Instagram.
"I will have to retire from Doha and Dubai and this is breaking my heart.
"I would like to say sorry to all the fans out there in the Middle East that waited for this reunion. I promise I will come back to you stronger and healthy."
Jabeur was beaten 1-6 7-5 6-1 by Vondrousova at Melbourne Park, and she was visibly upset when leaving the Rod Laver Arena. She stopped and knelt down alone for a few seconds in the tunnel where the players normally wait before going out.
“It was distressing for everyone to see,” said former British No. 1 Tim Henman on Eurosport's Australian Open coverage. “She had been out there on court giving it everything.
“She was the No. 2 seed, she was playing on the stadium court, it was difficult conditions. Not only was it cold and heavy, but it was also 01:00 [local time] in the morning there.
“It was just so unfortunate she has gone out in these circumstances, but we all wish her well and if she was not feeling her best, she makes a swift recovery."
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Emotional Jabeur kneels on floor after exiting Australian Open
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Eurosport expert Schett added that she was “shocked” to see Jabeur’s post-match reaction and hopes she can bounce back.
“You could see the disappointment on Ons Jabeur’s face as well," she said. "We know she had a bit of a knee problem when I spoke to her.
“She said she was taking so many pills, but then also her game today didn’t work out at all. The conditions were very slow.
“She was just taking it all in I guess - disappointment and everything coming out. She wanted to do some damage this year at this Grand Slam and it obviously didn’t work out.
“When I was watching her in the first round, she was rusty out there, she could not create any pace, any power, and she was lacking in that.”
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The 2023 Australian Open was live and the French Open will follow on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk
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