“I thought she’s gonna die,” Ons Jabeur’s coach Issam Jellali expresses his concerns over the Tunisian WTA icon’s health in upcoming documentary

Ons Jabeur’s loss to Marketa Vondrousova in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open came as a shock to everyone. The Tunisian had struggled in her first round as well, and she got knocked out in the very next round. World No. 86 Marketa Vondrousova beat Ons Jabeur, who was one of the favorites in the Grand Slam, in three sets (6-1, 5-7, 6-1). 

In Jabeur’s documentary “This is Me,” which has been released recently on Tod.to, her coach, Issam Jellali, revealed that she required medical assistance after her loss to Vondrousova as she struggled to breathe and had turned blue.

I thought she’s gonna die. 

Jellali said in the documentary

It was revealed that an enlarged nodule was obstructing the Tunisian’s airway, which prevented oxygen from reaching her lungs. Jabeur was heartbroken after her loss and she could not hold back her tears, which further deteriorated her situation. As a result, she had to undergo minor surgery that led her to miss the Middle East swing and was sidelined for five weeks. Jabeur was scheduled to play in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai. 

The Tunisian made a strong comeback, though. She won the Charleston Open, reached the quarterfinals of the Charleston Open, and reached the final of the Wimbledon. She lost to the same Marketa Vondrousova that had knocked her out in the Australian Open in the final of the 2023 Wimbledon final as well. 

Ons Jabeur turned down the offer to play for another country 

In the documentary, Ons Jabeur revealed some shocking facts. One of them was that she had once received an offer to represent another country, which she turned down. The Tunisian said that her nationality is a big part of her identity and she will not change that for anything. 

I refused because I knew part of me playing, part of Ons Jabeur, is being Tunisian and that blood will help me win and make history. 

Jabeur wants to become an Arab champion and change the perception of the world about the Arab countries according to her father, Ridha. 

She’s got that responsibility to show an example to 600 million people. And those 600 million people are behind that TV watching. When she steps into that court, she needs to deliver for those people.

said her agent, Adel Aref.

Jabeur was able to do that to some extent when she became the World No. 2 and reached two Grand Slam finals in 2022. However, the 29-year-old has a lot of potential and definitely still has a long way to go in her career. 

In case you missed it:

• “Pathetic attempt to diminish Novak’s dominance” – Fans left furious as Novak Djokovic was relegated in a poster featuring Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and other ATP Major champions
• “I could have a baby right away,” Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur reveals haunting personal story behind “the toughest loss” of her career

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