Wimbledon 2024: Back-to-Back Heart-Breaks Doesn’t Shatter Ons Jabeur as She Reveals True Emotions Ahead of London Return

Ons Jabeur’s Wimbledon journey has been anything but easy. The Tunisian tennis pro, who has walked out of the Centre Court at SW 19 after facing a final-round defeat twice, is back to redeem herself on the same court. Her aim? To win her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon this year. However, she revealed how overcoming the sad “memories” of last year and coming back will be “tough” for her.

“Wimbledon is one of those places which is my own paradise,” Jabeur said during her interview with Sky Sports. However, there have been moments of trouble in her paradise. After all, facing consecutive defeats in the finals of Wimbledon over the last couple of years is undoubtedly hard for any player. Jabeur is no exception as well. The memories of defeats have haunted her this year, but she is hoping they don’t come back. 

“I think it’s going to be a tough moment coming back, but also a nice moment. The last time I walked off the court at Wimbledon, it was really sad and I was really crying, so I hope I don’t get those memories back.” Jabeur’s 2022 Wimbledon run came to an end during the final match against Elena Rybakina, which ended 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Understandably sad at first, Jabeur did not lose her morale later on. In 2023, she came to the same ground and said, “But now we are in 2023, and hoping I can create better memories.”

Unfortunately, 2023 added to her bad luck at Wimbledon. Although she once again came close to winning her maiden title in London, a heartbreaking final match loss against Marketa Vondrousova by 6-4, 6-4 was her fate. Despite two gut-wrenching defeats, Jabeur still sets her sights on the Wimbledon trophy. 

Earlier this year, prior to her withdrawal from the Paris Olympics, Jabeur stated that her participation in “another kind of Grand Slam is very tough.” She followed her statement with her big goal for this year, “You know me. My goal is really Wimbledon. Let’s see how it goes.” The two losses have not destroyed her hopes, although she almost broke down on the court after her 2023 loss.

Jabeur admitted that it was the most heart-wrenching loss of her career. Initially, it was believed that it was because of her loss in another final. However, it had a personal touch to it. In her documentary, “This is Me,” she revealed how she was planning to extend her family and have a baby with her husband, Karim Kamoun, if she wins a Grand Slam at Wimbledon.

Sadly, her loss in the match affected her beyond professional bounds. Reflecting on that, she recently poured her heart out during her Nottingham Open run a few weeks ago.

Ons Jabeur reiterates her dreams of tennis

Before starting her Nottingham stint, Jabeur, who faced a quarterfinal defeat in the tournament later, talked about her struggles at Wimbledon last year. Almost a year has passed since that incident, but for Jabeur, the scars are still fresh. “It’s not a secret I want to be a mom like not just to have a kid and not play tennis anymore but my dream was always to have a baby and come back.”

However, the French Open quarterfinalist previously stated how it haunts them even now. “It scares me so much to go back and play a final, but I know I have to do this. I want to do bigger things than just a Grand Slam.”

Nevertheless, making it as her “life-mission,” Ons Jabeur is back on the grass with full vigor. After all, this is her favorite place to play tennis! “I’m always happy to be here,” she once said. Fans are now waiting to see her overcome all the difficulties and witness her reign in tennis, where she conquers her dreams at Wimbledon!