Jasmine Paolini sends message to Ons Jabeur as she retires with an injury during their Miami Open third-round match

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Ons Jabeur was hoping to find some form in Miami having lost her opening matches at her two previous WTA 1000 tournaments.

The Tunisian star had enjoyed a solid start to her 2025 season, reaching three WTA quarter-finals during the early months of the year.

Her form took a turn recently, however, as Jabeur lost her opening match at the Dubai Tennis Championships, 6-7, 4-6, to Peyton Stearns.

Another tough loss soon followed when Dayana Yastremska knocked her out of Indian Wells in the second round, 6-3, 6-1.

Jabeur bounced back with a hard-fought win in the second round of the Miami Open, taking down Katerina Siniakova, 6-4, 7-6 [9-7], before things quickly unraveled in her third-round match.

Jasmine Paolini ‘hopes’ Ons Jabeur will be back soon after retiring injured from their Miami Open match

The 30-year-old trailed Jasmine Paolini, 3-4 in the first set of their third-round match when she suffered an injury to her left leg.

Jabeur was forced to retire mid-match as she limped off the court, exiting the Miami Open at the last 32 stage.

Speaking in her on-court interview, Paolini wished Jabeur the best in her recovery from injury.

“It’s so bad to see scenes like this during a match,” she said.

“I hope she’ll be back soon and she’ll stay healthy.

“She’s one of the best people on tour, she’s always so friendly with everybody before and after the match.

“I wish everything heals fast for her.”

Jabeur has now failed to advance to the quarter-finals in each of her six visits to the Miami Open, as she continues to struggle on North American hard courts.

• 2025 Miami Open – Lost in 3R to Jasmine Paolini, 3-4 (RET)
• 2024 Miami Open – Lost in 2R to Elina Avanesyan, 1-6, 6-4, 3-6
• 2023 Miami Open – Lost in 2R to Varvara Gracheva, 2-6, 2-6
• 2022 Miami Open – Lost in 4R to Danielle Collins, 2-6, 4-6
• 2021 Miami Open – Lost in 4R to Sara Sorribes Tormo, 4-6, 6-0, 1-6
• 2019 Miami Open – Lost in 2R to Sloane Stephens 2-6, 3-6

The three-time Grand Slam finalist came closest to the last eight in Miami four years ago, when she lost in a deciding set to Sara Sorribes Tormo in the fourth round.

Jasmine Paolini looks to get back on track in 2025 at the Miami Open

Italy’s Paolini enjoyed the best year of her career in 2024, reaching two Grand Slam finals, at the French Open and Wimbledon tournaments.

She was just a set away from a first Major title at SW19, narrowly losing out to Barbora Krejcikova, 2-6, 6-2, 4-6.

Her performances saw her end the year ranked fourth in the world, a ranking she hasn’t quite lived up to in 2025.

Paolini is currently sat 22nd in the live ‘WTA Race’, one place behind Tunisia’s Jabeur, whom she beat in the Miami Open third round.

She is yet to reach a quarter-final this year, losing in the early rounds of all four tournaments she’s played in to date.

• 2025 Australian Open – Lost in 3R to Elina Svitolina, 6-2, 4-6, 0-6
• 2025 Qatar Open – Lost in 3R to Jelena Ostapenko, 2-6, 2-6
• 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships – Lost in 3R to Sofia Kenin, 4-6, 0-6
• 2025 Indian Wells – Lost in 4R to Liudmilla Samsonova, 0-6, 4-6

The 29-year-old hopes to go one better than she did recently at Indian Wells, as she looks to continue her assault on the Miami Open title.

Paolini will now prepare for a tough test against either Naomi Osaka or Hailey Baptiste in the fourth round of the Miami Open on Monday, March 24.