Jabeur: "What's the point of playing tennis when there are children and innocent people dying?"

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Respected and beloved by all in the circuit, Ons Jabeur lost her smile a while ago due to difficult sport disappointments, and to a notable involvement in one of the major geopolitical issues shaking the country, such as what is happening in Gaza. The Tunisian player spoke about this before the 2025 Australian Open.

Affectionately known as the Minister of Happiness, Ons Jabeur has been struggling to maintain that always cheerful disposition that characterizes her. She aims to gradually rediscover her best form, with this 2025 Australian Open being a good opportunity to achieve it. The impressions she conveys in a comprehensive interview with TheGuardian depict her as a very mature and socially committed woman, but also as a professional athlete who feels ready to return to the elite.

"What is happening in the world has affected me more than I expected. For a while now, I've been trying to stay away from the media because every time I see a video of the killings in Gaza, it's horrible. I'm trying to help as much as possible, but the most frustrating thing is that I know I can't do it as much as I would like," reveals a woman whose lost Grand Slam finals created a huge moral pitfall, contributing to her collapse.

- Jabeur's sporting collapse is explained by injuries, illnesses, and a great anguish over the ongoing wars

A perfect mix of injuries, social concerns, and frustration at not having won a Grand Slam, something that would have meant stepping away from tennis to become a mother, have led Jabeur to a complicated mental situation. "Lately, I've been trying to remind myself why I started playing tennis. I should be happy on the court, and it hasn't been like that for a while. I know a tennis career is a rollercoaster and I'm learning a lot from the tough times; I feel that the experience will help me," says the double Grand Slam finalist.

"I need to remember who I was, reconnect with myself. I don't know how long it will take me, but I trust that if I was able to play at a certain level, I will return to it. Maybe the second half of the year will be when I am at my best," she explains before detailing her ailments. "I played for a while while injured and also sick. My immune system suffered a lot. Additionally, seeing what was happening in the world further sank me," she stated.

- Jabeur says the next 12 months will be crucial in her life and that she will make drastic decisions regarding tennis and motherhood

There have been few professional tennis players who have spoken out about ongoing conflicts, and Ons has done so from her role as an ambassador of the World Food Programme. "We're trying to achieve something very simple yet currently very complex: that every child eats every day. It's heartbreaking to see innocent people constantly dying; right now, there are children dying from hunger and cold. The injustice that is lived kills me, and I'm trying to separate my concerns from my professional sphere. I haven't been able to do it so far. What sense does it make to play tennis if innocent people are dying?" she asserts.

Furthermore, the Tunisian does not forget her desire to be a mother. "I want to return to playing at my highest level consistently and compete against the world's best. My wish is to win a Grand Slam and do it while staying true to my tennis. This year is crucial for me because I want to start a family, but I try not to think too much about it because it puts a lot of pressure on me," states Ons Jabeur, who hints at a possible early retirement in the next 12 months with the goal of becoming a mother. Ultimately, she is a special player who dreams of having a great 2025 Australian Open.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jabeur: "¿Qué sentido tiene jugar a tenis cuando hay niños y gente inocente muriendo?"