Ons Jabeur has not played competitive tennis since retiring from her 2025 Wimbledon match with Viktoriya Tomava.
The three-time Grand Slam finalist has consistently teased a return to the sport, although a return date has never been set.
The star’s pregnancy announcement in November 2025 only further set her return timeline back, but the Tunisian star has kept her eye on the top of the sport.
In a brand-new interview, Jabeur has praised new world number three Amanda Anisimova and touted when she first thought she could succeed on the WTA Tour.
Ons Jabeur is a long-time fan of Amanda Anisimova
On Kim Clijster’s Love All podcast, Jabeur was full of praise for Anisimova’s journey over the past few years.
The former world number two even divulged information about a practice session with Anisimova, in which she realised she was destined for the very top of the WTA Tour.
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“Big hitter. I think I practiced once with her; it basically killed me. I remember, in Cincinnati, I hit serve, it was like ‘Boom’, and done, the point is over. I was trying but I didn’t know what to do,” she said.
“But I’m really happy for her that she’s playing well now, because she’s an unbelievable player. She should’ve been at this level already five years ago, or even more, but everybody takes their time, but I’m really happy for her.”
Anisimova recently reached the world number three spot on the WTA Tour for the very first time, after a 2025 season which saw her reach back-to-back Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Amanda Anisimova’s Brisbane International so far
Anisimova is competing in her first tournament of the year at the Brisbane International, where she is the number two seed.
The American began her campaign with a comprehensive straight sets victory over wild card Kimberley Birrell.
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Anisimova will next play number 16 seed Marta Kostyuk, who she currently has a losing head-to-head record with.
Kostyuk has won two of her three matches against Anisimova, which include a first round win at the 2023 Australian Open.
Anisimova has been drawn in the same section of the draw as Mirra Andreeva and she could play her compatriot Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.
