Ons Jabeur is one of the most significant and beloved figures in modern tennis. The Tunisian reached a career-high of World No. 2 in 2022 — the highest ranking ever achieved by an African or Arab player, man or woman — and became the first African and Arab woman to contest a Grand Slam singles final. She did it with one of the most creative, variety-rich games on tour, earning the nickname “Minister of Happiness” for her flair and warmth.
Her recent path has been about life beyond the rankings. Jabeur stepped away from the tour in 2025 and is currently on maternity leave, with plans to return to competition. The profile is a trailblazer and three-time major finalist in a chapter away from the game, with a comeback ahead.
Quick facts
- Full name: Ons Jabeur
- Nationality: Tunisia (born Ksar Hellal; based in Sousse)
- Born: August 28, 1994
- Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.67 m)
- Turned pro: 2010
- Plays: Right-handed, two-handed backhand
- Coach: Issam Jellali (verify current setup ahead of her return)
- Identity: Creative all-courter with drop shots, slice and exceptional variety
Season snapshot — June 2026
- Status: Currently inactive and on maternity leave; announced in November 2025 that she was expecting her first child
- Background to the break: Stepped away from the tour in July 2025, saying she had been fighting through injuries and had not felt happy on court, and wanted time to rest and recover
- Return plans: Has said she hopes to return to competition in late 2026 or early 2027, intending to use a protected ranking to enter Grand Slams (timeline fluid — verify before publishing)
- Career-high: World No. 2, reached June 27, 2022 — the highest-ranked African or Arab player in tennis history
- Career majors: None — runner-up at Wimbledon (2022, 2023) and the US Open (2022)
Snapshot data is time-sensitive and scheduled for review.
Snapshot
Jabeur plays a game built on variety rather than power: drop shots, slices, sharp angles, deft net play and a feel for changing pace that few can match. On grass and clay especially, that craft carried her to three major finals and a WTA 1000 title. The creativity that made her so dangerous also made her one of the sport’s most-watched and best-loved players.
Playing style and strengths
Variety and touch. Drop shots, slice and angles that disrupt rhythm and open the court.
Net skills. Comfortable finishing forward, a rarity in the modern baseline game.
Grass and clay craft. Her feel and variety travel best on the surfaces of her major finals.
Pressure points and vulnerabilities
- Converting the biggest matches, with three major finals lost
- Returning to top form after a long layoff and the demands of motherhood
- Rebuilding a ranking from inactivity, likely relying on a protected ranking and wild cards
- Sustaining the physical level of the tour on her comeback
Career milestones
- 2022: Won the Madrid Open (WTA 1000); reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals; rose to a career-high World No. 2
- 2022: First African and Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam singles final
- 2023: A second straight Wimbledon final
- A trailblazer and role model across Africa and the Arab world
Grand Slam record in context
Jabeur’s major record is defined by three finals — Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023, and the US Open in 2022 — without a title, plus quarterfinals at the Australian Open and French Open. The pattern is a player who reached the sport’s biggest stages repeatedly and fell just short. Whether she can contend again after maternity leave is the open question of her next chapter; her place as a pioneer is already secure.
What to watch next
- The comeback — when she returns and at what level
- A first major — whether a maiden Slam is still within reach on her return
- Legacy — her continuing influence as a trailblazer for African and Arab tennis
