Ons Jabeur has faced heartbreak before. Three Grand Slam finals. Three losses. Each time, she left the court with tears and the weight of expectations. But what happens when you don’t just have to contend with the opponent, but more than that? After a tough defeat, she checks her phone, and hundreds of messages flood in. Some call her an inspiration. But she also gets threats and that’s not pleasant! Why did you lose? You cost me money! Well, is that nice to hear? Definitely not. Jabeur has never been one to stay silent and recently brought attention to the same on the Major Podcast!

When asked about an under-discussed topic in tennis, Ons Jabeur didn’t hesitate. “First thing comes to mind, you know, all the betting and the abuse that players get on social media. We don’t talk about that a lot. Maybe they don’t know what is really happening and the kind of messages we receive, ” she said on the Nothing Major podcast with Sam Querrey, John Isner, Steve Johnson, and Jack Sock

Continuing further, she added, “Obviously, some players are experiencing it more than others. Young players are coming up, and they don’t know how to deal with social media abuse. I think it is an important topic to address and definitely maybe changing the betting system that is happening around the betting community. I do get a lot. Some things are very, like, very extreme. But I got used to it, and I would not say I don’t care. I obviously do care. At the end of the day, I remind myself, these people are hopeless and behind the screens.”

This isn’t the first time Jabeur is talking about it. She has been pretty vocal about this in the past too. When Iga Swiatek spoke out about the online abuse, she received after dropping a set at the Cincinnati Open against Qinwen Zheng in Quarterfinals in 2023, Ons Jabeur wasn’t surprised. She had seen it before—both firsthand and in the experiences of fellow players.

Jabeur, who has dealt with similar abuse, backed Świątek without hesitation. “I’m glad that Iga is talking about it,” she said. “You win, you lose, you get hate messages no matter what.”

For Jabeur, the real problem isn’t just social media—it’s the people fueling it. “We need more nicer people on this earth, but I don’t think you can change the mentality of some bettors,” she said. “They have nothing to do in their life, and they are just spending money on you. Probably, what, they lost a couple of bucks on Iga losing a set?”

It isn’t Ons Jabeur only, Caroline Garcia has been pretty vocal about online abuse, particularly following her first-round loss at the US Open to Renata Zarazúa. Garcia shared that she received hateful messages. She pointed to unhealthy betting as a significant cause, also questioning the anonymity that allows abusers to remain unchecked, suggesting that, unlike in public spaces, online hate should come with consequences.

Coming back to Ons Jabeur and her failure to win a Grand Slam title, she is fighting the demons of it and she admitted that herself.

The Mental Strain of Chasing a Grand Slam for Ons Jabeur

Ons Jabeur’s pursuit of a Grand Slam title has been a journey of immense highs and painful lows. Three times she has come close, only to fall short. How close? Close enough to taste it, but never enough to hold it.

First, there was Wimbledon 2022. Jabeur had already made history by becoming the first African and Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam singles final where she faced Elena Rybakina, the 17th seed who had seemingly come out of nowhere. It was a match that could’ve been hers, but it wasn’t. Rybakina held firm, winning in three sets.

And then came the 2022 US Open, where Jabeur’s form peaked and she became the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final at Flushing Meadows, a remarkable achievement in itself. But, like the Wimbledon, her journey ended without the title she so desperately sought. Iga Świątek, the world No. 1, proved too much to handle, defeating Jabeur in straight sets. What’s left? The heartbreak

But then came Wimbledon 2023, which she described as ‘most difficult defeat” when she found herself in the final, this time against the unseeded Markéta Vondroušová. Despite an impressive run to the final, which included victories over the likes of Petra Kvitová, Elena Rybakina, and Aryna Sabalenka, Jabeur lost in straight sets to Vondroušová.

Sharing her thoughts on the Wimbledon final on Nothing Major Podcast, the Tunisian said, “The second Wimbledon final I was really tight, and I was trying to relax and I couldn’t find a way just play my game and enjoy the game, you know? That was really, really tough.”

When being asked a follow-up question: “Do you think getting that far, and going down that path, is that more physical or mental at that point trying to win a Slam?”

Her response was measured, reflecting on the journey; she said, “It is both but I would say, better mental. For me, if mentally, I am ready I can push myself physically. But I didn’t really feel tired but mostly; mentally, I was a bit tense, stressed a little bit and maybe tired”

It remains to be seen whether Ons Jabeur will finally win her first Grand Slam title. The Australian Open was a bitter disappointment, with the Tunisian suffering a third-round exit—yet another setback in her pursuit of tennis’ biggest prize. But could her best chance lie ahead at Wimbledon, where she has already reached two Grand Slam finals? Only time will tell!