With less than 100 days remaining until the 2025 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, Ons Jabeur, the Arab world's tennis star, has announced her return to the event in February. Jabeur, who has been sidelined due to a long-term shoulder injury, will be back in action at the prestigious International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City for the third edition of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (February 1-8), a WTA 500 event.
The Tunisian, known for her popularity and success in the tennis world, had to withdraw from nearly half of the 2024 Hologic WTA Tour season due to her injury. She made only one singles appearance after Wimbledon in July before taking a break to focus on her charity work. Jabeur expressed her excitement about returning to the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a tournament she holds dear to her heart.
"I'm thrilled to be returning to the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, one of my favorite tournaments in my home region where I always receive such incredible support," Jabeur said. "It's been a challenging few months with my shoulder injury, but I anticipate being fully fit for 2025. I can't wait to compete in Abu Dhabi again in front of our passionate fans. The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open continues to evolve, attracting top players each year, and I'm excited to be part of it once more," she added.
Nigel Gupta, Tournament Director of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, welcomed Jabeur's return, stating, "It's wonderful news that Ons will be back on the court next year, and we are eager to have her return for the 2025 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open." Gupta highlighted Jabeur's significant impact on the growth of tennis in the region and her popularity among fans.
Jabeur, a two-time Wimbledon finalist and a US Open finalist in 2022, is a five-time singles champion on the Hologic WTA Tour, having reached a career-high ranking of No. 2 in the world. She will join a stellar field of 28 top singles players and 16 doubles pairs for eight days of high-level women's tennis action. The event, hosted in partnership with Mubadala and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, builds on the success of the first two editions in 2023 and 2024.
In 2024, former Wimbledon champion and World No. 5 Elena Rybakina won the singles title, while Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin claimed the doubles title. The upcoming tournament in February is expected to feature a similarly elite lineup of competitors in 2025.
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