Ons Jabeur hasn’t played a match on the WTA Tour since June 2025.
The Tunisian star announced a break from competitive tennis after losing in the first round of Wimbledon in 2025.
Then, in November, Jabeur announced on Instagram that she was pregnant.
“Took a little break to reset and recharge… Turns out, we’ve been planning the cutest comeback ever,” said Jabeur.
“The court will have to wait a little longer, because soon… We’ll be welcoming our tiniest teammate.
“Baby boy joining the team in April.”
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It’s an exciting time for Jabeur and her husband off the court, but the 31-year-old already has one eye on a return to the WTA Tour.
Appearing as a guest on Kim Clijster’s ‘Love All‘ podcast, Jabeur laid out the timeline for her return.
Ons Jabeur plans to return to tennis at the end of 2026
“I’m hoping to come back end of 2026, but it could be early, it could be not early, I don’t know,” said Jabeur.
“I just want to play a few tournaments before the new season in 2027, but again, I’ve never delivered a baby, I don’t know what that feels like, I don’t know how my body will react.
“There are a lot of things that are unknown, but I’m putting such positive energy around it, and I hope it’s going to be great.”
Jabeur is hoping to have as successful a comeback as Clijsters, who won the US Open after giving birth.
“I’m talking to the expert of coming back!” she said.
“I want my comeback to be like yours, just win the US Open right away. I would love that.
“Right now I’m just focusing on being pregnant, and hopefully, have a small delivery… But definitely, I would love to come back, I want to come back, I’m definitely inspired by you, and your comeback.
“You are one of the first ones that actually did an amazing comeback, and we see now, more mothers on tour, which is encouraging.
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“I feel I want to give my body the time needed, I’m hoping, no pressure on the baby, that he will be my biggest motivation.
“I feel like I will be playing for something other than myself. Which may be what I need, because at certain times I really lost motivation, I didn’t know when or where I wanted to play.
“But for now, I feel like I have more reasons to do so.”
Jabeur will definitely be one to watch when she returns, but does she still have Grand Slam ambitions?
‘I still want the Grand Slam’ – Ons Jabeur
At 31, Jabeur knows she’s not getting any younger, but has changed her perspective on age.
“It’s always like ‘You’re getting too old to win a Slam’,” she said.
“I wanted to have a kid when I was 25, to be honest with you, that was the actual plan.
“But again, putting timelines on things that basically I cannot control, made good pressure, but also, after, it was unbearable for me.
“At the end of the day, I don’t care anymore.
“I’d always wanted to win a Grand Slam before having a kid, because of the unknown of coming back.
Ons Jabeur’s Grand Slam final defeats
| Grand Slam final | Opponent | Result | Score |
| 2022 Wimbledon | Elena Rybakina | LOSS | 6-3, 2-6, 2-6 |
| 2022 US Open | Iga Swiatek | LOSS | 2-6, 6-7 |
| 2023 Wimbledon | Marketa Vondrousova | LOSS | 4-6, 4-6 |
“But now I feel like I’ve let go a little bit, and just going with the flow.
“I definitely still want the Grand Slam, but I know deep inside there are way better things than winning a Slam.
“This baby is going to be such an unbelievable gift, and I’m so grateful for that.”
When she does return, Jabeur will be able to enter Grand Slam events with her Protected Ranking, although she wishes it were higher…
“Not the best, not happy with the ranking I stopped with,” she said.
- Ons Jabeur took a break from tennis when ranked #71
“But, it’s so good to have the Protected Ranking, especially for someone who cannot get as many wild cards.
“I’m hoping the Middle East will give me a lot of wild cards when I come back. I see now some people who have won Grand Slams, and they don’t even give them wild cards, it’s crazy! So I’m a little bit scared.
“But I’m happy that I can use it [Protected Ranking] for the Grand Slams.”
We look forward to seeing Jabeur return to tennis, but first, we wish her well for the next few months!
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