Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur is currently taking some time away from tennis to focus on on her personal life.
The Tunisian star, a former world number two, made the announcement in May 2025, saying that she would be ‘putting herself first’ after playing through injuries for the best part of two years.
While on Tour, Jabeur contested some of the most high-profile matches of the decade, including the 2022 US Open final against Iga Swiatek.
Jabeur has also played the current world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, on six occasions – their last meeting being at the 2023 Cincinnati Open.
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Recently, Jabeur reflected on her rivalry with Sabalenka, noting the power the Belarusian possesses.
Ons Jabeur says her rivalry with Aryna Sabalenka is ‘crazy’ because neither player likes to play each other
“She hits very hard. You can see the stats, how fast she hits,” Jabeur said while talking to Kim Clijsters on the Love All Podcast.
“The thing with her, you’re afraid to give her an easy ball, that she’s going to smack and kill you with it, so you end up forcing it, taking more risks, and missing out.
“For me, it’s crazy because she doesn’t like to play me, and I don’t like to play her. So whoever is there to play her game is the one who is going to win.
“So if I’m getting there and feeling my slices, getting her to every corner that she hates, she gets frustrated. If she’s very fast and doesn’t let me do my shots, that’s very frustrating for me.”
Clijsters, a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, noted the strength Jabeur has when playing the Belarusian world number one.
She said: “With you, I feel like when you played her, you were able to take over her speed very well. I feel the more you played her, the better you got in control, even when she was dominating the points, you were able to, with your backhand, stay with the pace and wait for the right moment.
“There was a period of time where I could really see the improvement of adjusting to her game style, which is why I think you got to her mentally a little bit as well.”
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Jabeur added: “Trusting my game also, more. Being able to say, I can hit with them, it’s fine.”
Sabalenka has won four of her six matches against Jabeur on the WTA Tour. In their last match at the 2023 Cincinnati Open, Sabalenka defeated Jabeur 7-5, 6-3.
Aryna Sabalenka’s strong start to 2026
Despite being handed a nightmare draw at her first tournament, Aryna Sabalenka has wasted no time in stamping her authority upon the 2026 WTA Tour campaign.
The Belarusian has been her usual dominant self, starting the year with a 6-0, 6-1 victory against Cristina Bucsa at the Brisbane International.
On Thursday morning, the 28-year-old defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-3 to book her place in the quarter-finals.
The world number one will face Madison Keys next; the player Sabalenka lost to in the 2025 Australian Open final.
In their last outing at the 2025 Indian Wells Masters, Sabalenka defeated Keys emphatically, 6-0, 6-1.
