"Maybe I’m not ready to be a mum yet" says Ons Jabeur as Grand Slam dream continues to be at the forefront ahead of motherhood after double Wimbledon heartbreak

Monday, 29 April 2024 at 21:00

Ons Jabeur revealed that she postponed motherhood after her defeat in the 2023 Wimbledon final. The 29-year-old Tunisian had planned to take a break from tennis to become a mother if she won her first Grand Slam title, but she fell decisively to the non-seeded Marketa Vondrousova.

That was Jabeur's third loss in Slam finals, having previously faltered in the 2022 edition against Elena Rybakina and against Iga Swiatek in the 2022 US Open. The former world No. 2 entered the final against Vondrousova as the clear favorite after consecutive victories over four former Grand Slam champions: Bianca Andreescu, Petra Kvitova, Rybakina, and Aryna Sabalenka.

Jabeur's continued quest for Grand Slam glory

Jabeur had the opportunity to make history as the first African or Arab tennis player to win a Grand Slam title, and it was a perfect closure before pausing her career to become a mother, as she recalled in an interview with The Guardian: "That loss was very difficult because it was connected to me being a mother and having a family. So that was an extra sadness for me."

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Jabeur has been married to Karim Kamoun since 2015, a former fencer who is now her fitness coach. The Tunisian mentioned in her recent documentary "This is Me" that she and Kamoun cried "like babies" after the defeat, but she is still focused on pursuing her dream of becoming a Grand Slam champion.

“It is what it is,” Jabeur said. “I think it was meant to be. Maybe I’m not ready to be a mum yet. Hopefully I can get that title because I really, really want it. Obviously now coming from a couple of very difficult months, I will try to get there and hopefully one day I can be a mum and bring my kid to the tour. I’m not getting any younger and I feel like it’s important that I want to come back and have my kid with me on tour.

Jabeur boasts a record of 17-6 (74%) in Wimbledon

“I was in a super-bad zone and I think I couldn’t handle another loss,” she added “But I was challenging myself, I was like: ‘OK, I’ve never been in this situation before,’ in being a top player and losing a lot of matches. But I said, also looking at some quotes and everything, for me it’s good to dare to fail.”

“I think if you’re a coward, you will not go and try. I didn’t want to be a coward and I wanted to try, even losing but taking the loss with pride. That was one thing that I was proud of myself for doing, even though I had a lot of negative thoughts. But it happens, I do accept these negative thoughts and turn them into positive ones,” Jabeur concluded.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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