Ons Jabeur’s unfortunate 2024 season continued to be so, as an injury forced her to withdraw from yet another tournament, this time the 2024 Cincinnati Open. The Tunisian has always struggled with various types of injuries, even when she was mostly healthy. It has been an area where she rarely reaches her peak physically. It is not due to a lack of training, but rather a stroke of bad luck. The healthiest she has been was probably around 2021 and 2022 when she played a significant number of matches and performed well. She almost won 50 matches in both seasons and made it to the finals of the Grand Slam. However, this year has seen a decline in both her form and health. She has only played 30 matches so far this year and is unlikely to surpass 50 matches, which hasn’t happened since 2015.
Although she played fewer matches during the pandemic-affected season, it is evident that her recent health struggles are due to injuries. She has been dealing with a knee issue for most of this year, and although it is still present, her current injury is unrelated to the knee. It is a shoulder problem that caused her to miss the Citi Open in Washington. Jabeur participated in the 2024 Canadian Open in Toronto but suffered an easy loss to Naomi Osaka. Playing that match turned out to be a mistake as it aggravated her existing shoulder injury. With the US Open just 14 days away, Jabeur is now racing against time to recover and be able to compete in the event where she reached the final two years ago.
Jabeur took to social media to provide an update on her condition, expressing her regret for not being able to participate in the Cincinnati Open due to her aggravated shoulder injury. Despite her best efforts to recover in time, playing in Toronto only worsened her condition, making it impossible for her to compete at the required level. She is currently doing everything she can to recover in time for the upcoming US Open in New York.
Missing the US Open would be devastating for Jabeur, not only because it is a Grand Slam tournament, but also because this year the event will be using lighter tennis balls, the same ones used in 2022 when she reached the final. This change suits her playing style better than some other players, like Aryna Sabalenka, who prefers heavier balls. Additionally, the lighter balls should put less strain on her shoulder, giving her hope that she can participate in the last major tournament of the season with the two weeks left until the event.
Photo from Ons Jabeur Instagram
