Ons Jabeur Thanks WTA and PIF for Maternity Programme After Announcing Pregnancy: “Will Make My Comeback Easier”
Former World No.2 Ons Jabeur ended the season at Wimbledon with a 15-15 win-loss record.
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Ons Jabeur (Image via X/Jimmy48 Photography)
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Ons Jabeur‘s mental health break stirred speculation about her potential retirement, but the two-time Grand Slam finalist has made it clear that hanging up her racket is not at all on the back of her mind. She intends to come back when she feels her passion for tennis is reignited.
The “Minister of Happiness” recently announced that a baby boy is on the way. Jabeur wanted to start a family with husband, Karim Kammoun, in 2023 had she fulfilled her Grand Slam dream.
After losing the 2022 Wimbledon final to Elena Rybakina, Jabeur once again got the chance to script history when she made it to the Wimbledon final the following year. But this time, Marketa Vondrousova denied her the win.
I win that [final], I could have a baby right away. And that dream faded. I was haunted by fear.
Ons Jabeur told The National
Jabeur always wanted to expand her family and return to the tour as a proud tennis mother. Thanks to the Player Council, the WTA has been working hard to ease the problems the mothers deal with while competing on the tour.
The WTA and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) created the Maternity Fund Programme, which grants special ranking to those who want maternity leave.
The maternity programme is unbelievable, and I want to thank PIF and WTA for making this happen. I actually spoke to some PIF people in Saudi and I think it’s going to help a lot of us, and definitely me. I’ll be participating in that, and hopefully it will make my comeback easier.
Ons Jabeur added
Jabeur was last seen in action in the first round of Wimbledon. Breathing problems forced her to hand the walkover to Viktoriya Tomova.
Ons Jabeur on her new academy in Dubai
Later this month, Ons Jabeur will fulfill one of her dreams as she will launch her new academy, the Ons Jabeur Academy, at the Academic City Campus in Dubai. She dreams of winning Wimbledon and celebrating it at her academy.
I’m going to be there. I’m going to practice with you guys, and I’m going to share your same experience. And we’re going to do things together. And maybe I need you if I’m serving, you return my serve, and we can be there as a huge family, and we share this experience together… I want to be at Wimbledon and win it and then go celebrate in my academy one day; that’s the beauty of it.
Ons Jabeur told The National
Aref Jellali, also a former Davis Cup player, will serve as the director of her academy. He played a huge role in the careers of US Open Champion Bianca Andreescu as well as reigning Canadian Open champion Victoria Mboko. Kammoun will serve as the fitness head coach, while her coach, Issam Jellali, will also be part of the team.
Jabeur at first hoped to open the academy at home in Tunisia, but “some haters” had blocked her from doing so. The 31-year-old doesn’t want her academy to be a pressurized environment that focuses on only the development of future Grand Slam champions. All she wants is for the people joining the academy to have fun and learn how to play.
The former World No.2 last lifted a title at the 2023 Ningbo Open against Diana Shnaider. She reached three finals, winning two titles in 2023.
The World No. 79 won 15 matches this season and lost the same number of matches. In Grand Slam events this year, Jabeur failed to progress beyond the third round, reaching the stage at the Australian Open.
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