Ons Jabeur forced to pull out of WTA tournaments to have surgery
The Wimbledon and US Open runner-up will miss tournaments in Qatar and the UAE
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
World number three Ons Jabeur has pulled out of WTA tournaments in Doha and Dubai later this month after opting to have minor surgery, the 28-year-old said on Wednesday.
“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, last year’s Wimbledon and US Open runner-up, said on Instagram.
She did not give any detail about the operation or why it was required.
“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.”
The Qatar Open was scheduled to be held from Feb. 13-18 with the Dubai Duty Free Championships taking place the next week.
Jabeur crashed out of the second round of the Australian Open last month after an error-strewn display in a 6-1 5-7 6-1 loss to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova and collapsed in tears after leaving the court.
Jabeur is the highest ranked African or Arab tennis player in history, and won her first WTA 1000 title at the Madrid Open in May last year.
She will be replaced by Bianca Andreescu in Doha, where Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka is another high profile withdrawal.
Yulia Putintseva, meanwhile, will now play at the tournament in Dubai.
Reuters
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments