Tunisian Star Ons Jabeur Opens Up About Wimbledon Pressure and Panic Attack
Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur opened up about the immense pressure she faced during last year’s Wimbledon final, revealing that she had a panic attack during the pre-match warm-up. Jabeur, who had previously lost the 2022 US Open final, had seemed poised to clinch her first Grand Slam title after winning the opening set against her younger opponent Elena Rybakina. However, the mounting expectations and desire to succeed ultimately led to a series of uncharacteristic errors, resulting in a 6-4, 6-4 defeat.
In a candid interview with BBC Sport, the 29-year-old emphasized the importance of being transparent about the emotional challenges faced by professional athletes. “I feel it’s important to send that message. Just be open about it, let it out. Don’t keep it inside,” Jabeur said. “For me, I just like to share my experience with other young players so they know that as a professional tennis player, there are happy moments, there are sad moments, there are difficult moments and it’s OK to have those.”
The Tunisian’s loss at Wimbledon also forced her to reconsider her plans for starting a family. “I always wanted to win a Grand Slam and maybe go and have a baby and come back again,” she explained. “So losing that final probably took that away from me.” However, Jabeur acknowledged that she may have been overly focused on balancing her personal and professional goals, and has since come to terms with the reality of her situation.
As Jabeur prepares to return to Wimbledon, she is determined to learn from her past experiences and turn her “negative to positive feelings.” Her candid remarks not only shed light on the immense pressures faced by elite tennis players but also serve as a powerful message of resilience and self-acceptance within the sport.
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