Ons Jabeur, the Tunisian tennis star who reached the finals of the 2022 U.S. Open and Wimbledon, has withdrawn from this year’s U.S. Open due to a lingering shoulder injury. Jabeur, who was seeded 17th in the tournament, announced her withdrawal on Thursday via an Instagram post.
Jabeur has been struggling with shoulder issues for several months. She pulled out of the hard-court tournament in Washington before losing to Naomi Osaka in her lone match in Montreal. In her Instagram post, Jabeur expressed her disappointment at not being able to compete at Flushing Meadows.
“I’m so sad to announce that I have to withdraw from the US Open due to my shoulder injury,” Jabeur wrote. “I’ve been doing everything I can to get ready, but it’s just not ready yet. I’m so disappointed to miss out on one of my favorite tournaments, but I know that my health is the most important thing right now.”
Jabeur’s withdrawal is a significant blow to the U.S. Open field. She was one of the favorites to reach the latter stages of the tournament, having reached the finals of the past two Grand Slams. Her absence opens the door for other players to make a deep run, including defending champion Emma Raducanu and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
Despite her injury, Jabeur remains optimistic about her future. She is determined to return to full fitness and continue her pursuit of Grand Slam glory.
“I’m going to take some time off to rest and recover,” Jabeur said. “I’m confident that I’ll be back stronger than ever next year.”
