Ons Jabeur, a 29-year-old Tunisian star and two-time Wimbledon runner-up, requested a medical timeout during her first-round match on Monday as she struggled in the scorching London sun. Minutes later, she returned to court but retired after being unable to bear the 30-degree Celsius temperature.
Weather at Wimbledon
The incident happened when the temperature at Wimbledon’s Centre Court reached around 30 degrees Celsius at 11:30 am and was forecast to reach 33 degrees Celsius throughout the day.
Ons Jabeur retires from her match against Viktoriya Tomova at Wimbledon.
Awful to see this.
A 2-time Wimbledon finalist who’s had some of her most emotional times on a tennis court at this event.
She just can’t get her body healthy.
Hopefully better times are coming. 🇹🇳❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/He3xN9BmLY
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 30, 2025
Ons Jabeur Medical Timeout
Ons Jabeur was trailing 3-2 in the first set against Viktoriya Tomova, a Bulgarian player ranked outside the top 50, when she took a medical timeout. Medical staff checked on her during her 14-minute medical timeout.
(You May Also Like: FIFA Club World Cup 2025: full schedule, kick-off times, Format, and Live Streaming)
After the timeout, Jabeur tried to compose herself and re-enter the match, but she realised that continuing could put her health at risk. With a heavy heart and tears in her eyes, she went to the umpire and told him of her decision to retire.
Emotional Collapse on Court
After retiring, Ons Jabeur sat down in her chair on the side of the court and burst into tears. Hiding her face in a towel, she continued to cry silently. After this retirement, Ons Jabeur’s Wimbledon campaign ended in disappointment.
Heartbreak for Ons Jabeur 💔
The two-time Wimbledon finalist was in tears as she retired from her first round match against Viktoriya Tomova 😭#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/FTattwErHn
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 30, 2025
“I didn’t expect that I would not feel well. I have been practicing well the last few days. But I guess these things happen,” Ons Jabeur said later. “I am very sad. This did not help my confidence, and I pushed myself even though it had been very difficult for me. I hope I will feel better.”
A Shocking Start to Wimbledon 2025
Wimbledon’s opening days are often full of surprises, but Ons Jabeur, known for her artistry and grace on the grass, had to retire from her opening match against Bulgaria’s Viktoria Tomova with less than an hour to go due to health concerns.
(You May Also Like: 2025 NBA Draft First Round Will Blow Your Mind: Shocking Picks and Bold Moves)
Her withdrawal gave Tomova a walkover win, and she will now face Britain’s number three, Sonja Kartal, in the next round.
Tunisian star Ons Jabeur has yet to win a major title despite reaching three Grand Slam finals in her career. She reached consecutive Wimbledon finals in 2022 and 2023 but finished runner-up both times.
Ons Jabeur was defeated by Elena Rybakina in the 2022 Wimbledon final and by Marketa Vondrousova in the 2023 Wimbledon final. Similarly, in the 2022 US Open, Iga Swiatek defeated her in the final and won the title.
Ons Jabeur’s emotional post after retiring injured from her #Wimbledon first-round match yesterday 😢
Hopefully she can be back her best soon 🤞🏼 pic.twitter.com/B3JYuQDWGh
— Callum (@cdaviesjourno) July 1, 2025