Ons Jabeur was being seen by the physio in her match with Aryna Sabalenka. Her right foot was taped up by the physio. She looked uncomfortable after running for a ball. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious. We don’t need any big injuries before the US Open 🙏🏼❤️
(VIDEO) "We don’t need any big injuries before the US Open": Injury concerns after Ons Jabeur seen by physio during match at Cincinnati Open
WTASaturday, 19 August 2023 at 12:03
Ons Jabeur caused some concern among fans after she was seen by a physio during her quarter-final match against Aryna Sabalenka at the Cincinnati Open.
World No. 5 Jabeur defeated Anhelina Kalinina and Donna Vekic to make the quarter-finals of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she faced world No. 2 Sabalenka.
The match served as a reversal of their meeting in the semi-finals of Wimbledon, where the Tunisian player defeated Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3, to advance to her second consecutive SW19 final, where she lost to Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets.
However, it was the Belarusian player who took the win this time, emerging victorious 7-5, 6-3.
Fans concerned for Jabeur after problems with foot
As the match went on, fans became concerned for Jabeur as she looked uncomfortable running for a ball. The 28-year-old then called for a medical timeout.
During the timeout, her foot was taped up tightly by the physio, and Jabeur was then able to finish the match albeit in a defeat. Speaking after her win, Sabalenka said it was clear that her opponent was struggling.
"It can be distracting," she said of playing an injured opponent, "But sometimes players do that for a reason, to get you distracted. But I saw that she struggled a lot. She didn't play that good. She didn't move. I was just like just finishing the match."
Injuries are becoming increasingly concerning for players as the US Open draws closer, with the start of the last Grand Slam of the year less than ten days away.
Several injured players have either withdrawn or retired from the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 events in Cincinnati this week as they try to keep themselves fit enough to compete at the upcoming major. These include the likes of Elena Rybakina, Marie Bouzkova, Holger Rune, and Mackenzie McDonald to name a few.
Some tennis fans have blamed the difficult schedule faced by many players, as rain delays have forced them to play late into the night or even play two matches in one day at tournaments throughout the season.
"Too many players getting hurt because of the terrible scheduling and week to week tennis," commented one under a video of Jabeur's medical timeout.
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