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Ons Jabeur's tennis timeout shows growing need to address problem of player burnout
Ons Jabeur's tennis timeout shows growing need to address problem of player burnout

The National

time4 days ago

  • Health
  • The National

Ons Jabeur's tennis timeout shows growing need to address problem of player burnout

In a poignant message shared on social media by Ons Jabeur earlier this week, in which she announced she would be taking a break from professional tennis, one particular sentence stood out to me. 'Right now, I feel it's time to take a step back and finally put myself first: to breathe, to heal, and to rediscover the joy of simply living,' wrote the Tunisian tennis star. The joy of simply living – a fundamental need we often struggle to fulfil, or, even worse, forget to pursue. For professional athletes, especially tennis players, being on tour 11 months a year, chasing points, prize money, titles, and success, while constantly switching time zones and being away from loved ones, can make it increasingly difficult to find the joy of simply living. From the countless conversations I've had with players over the years, I've realised burn out hasn't just become a common occurrence in the world of professional tennis, it's become pretty much inevitable. While physical burnout can be easy to identify because it typically involves an injury or a specific pain felt in a specific part of the body, mental burnout is far trickier to detect. Players often attach their happiness – or lack thereof – to wins and losses on the court, and they find their identity too intertwined with tennis. That can be very dangerous in a sport where a competitor can lose every single week because only one champion is crowned at the end of each tournament. Everyone else walks away feeling like a loser. Those feelings a player attaches to every result can mask the true underlying struggles he or she is grappling with internally. The easy 'fix' for most tennis players is to just power through, and look ahead to the new week in order to chase a better result. But sometimes powering through is not the answer and that's what Jabeur, and a few others, have come to realise. The former world No 2 has been battling injuries and illness for the majority of the last two years. She took four months off at the end of 2024 to deal with a shoulder issue but she still didn't look or feel like herself when she returned in 2025. 'Deep down, I haven't truly felt happy on the court for some time now,' confessed Jabeur, who is famously dubbed the 'Minister of Happiness' back home in Tunisia. Her husband and fitness trainer Karim Kamoun posted a message on social media expressing his full support of Jabeur's decision. 'True strength isn't always found in pushing through. Sometimes, it's in knowing when to pause, breathe, and heal. Ons Jabeur's decision to step back isn't a setback, it's the foundation of a powerful comeback,' wrote Kamoun. 'Champions don't just fight; they know when to recover. And when she returns, it won't be as the same player … it'll be as something stronger.' The more I speak to unhappy players on the tennis circuit, the more I understand the complexity of their situation. From the outside, it seems like taking the occasional break from competing and travelling is an obvious way to preserve one's mental health and avoid potential burnout. But taking time off is one of the hardest decisions a player can make. A couple of months ago at Roland Garros, Jabeur said her decision to stop competing last August because of her shoulder should have been taken much earlier but she felt the pressure to keep going. 'We have a lot of guilt inside us, saying we're not doing enough or it's not enough,' said the three-time major finalist. 'The pressure from sponsors, the pressure from the ranking, the pressure of providing, I don't know, some players provide for their families as well. It is a very tough sport, unfortunately. I'm learning. I'm 30 years old, but I'm still learning in that.' Whether it's the 52-week ranking system that could see you drop points every week you don't perform well, or the bonus pool formula that penalises players for missing events by docking percentages from their end-of-season bonuses, or the mandatory tournaments scheme that could slap you with a zero-pointer for skipping one – it's essentially like having an F count towards your GPA. There are many reasons tennis players feel like they can't walk away from the tour for a short while. Which is why players like Jabeur – and many before her such as Amanda Anisimova, Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu, and Emil Ruusuvuori to name a few – choosing to take a break is considered a bold and inspiring move. In an ideal world, players would treat potential mental burnout the same way they would deal with possible physical issues. Just like athletes pay a great deal of attention to injury prevention via work with their strength and conditioning coaches, why aren't more players looking ahead and thinking about their career longevity by preserving their mental health and keeping an eye out for early signs of mental burnout? Several young players have told me they never think about taking time off or pacing themselves on tour because they want to 'maximise' on their current opportunities as much as possible because there is no guarantee how long they'll be able to compete at this level. Grigor Dimitrov, who at 34, has navigated lots of highs and lows in tennis, believes many young players are surrounded by large teams that can insulate them from reality. 'They feel so protected. I always say that artificial surroundings that everyone has created around them, it does not allow things to go in,' the Bulgarian told The National recently at Wimbledon. 'So they're more or less a little bit bulletproof but also they haven't really seen disappointments, they haven't really seen failures, they haven't really seen bad things in their lives. 'So that already itself puts you in that cloud nine thing and you keep on rolling with it. Of course you want to capitalise the best you can. 'The younger you are, the more you do, the more money you get, the more everything has increased, the more popular you get, the more of the Instagrams and all the Twitters and the likes and all that, you get a lot more of it and I get it.' The flip side of that is that you can also ignore how you really feel. Players such as Madison Keys and Andrey Rublev have found great value in working with psychologists rather than solely relying on mental coaches. While a mental coach can give you tools to deal with stressful situations on court and other issues related to your tennis, psychologists will talk to you like a human being first. 'I can only speak for myself. It's been incredibly helpful to me,' said Keys of her decision to speak to a therapist. 'I've tried sports psychologists in the past, and I think for me just everything being so focused on just the sport and just tennis was not as helpful as I needed it to be. 'Really going to someone and looking at my overall life and how that was influencing how I felt on the court probably made the biggest difference for me. 'I feel like as tennis players, from a pretty young age, it just happens where our identity becomes very wrapped up in being a tennis player. 'That's great, but when you have the tough kind of weeks, months, years on tour, that can really take a toll on how you think about yourself as a person. 'So being able to dive into that and figure out how to separate the two and know that you're not just a tennis player, you're a full person that has all of these other really great attributes and other interests and just different things in your life. 'That was really a really important piece for me, and I think that kind of made the tennis a little bit easier.' Keys clinched a maiden Grand Slam title in January this year at the Australian Open and has credited the work she has done with her psychologist for her breakthrough just a couple of weeks shy of her 30th birthday. Rublev, who has openly discussed his battle with depression, was asked to give advice to his peers on tour who may be struggling with mental health issues. At Wimbledon, Alexander Zverev spoke about feeling 'empty' and 'lonely' away from the court and how he is generally 'lacking joy'. Casper Ruud told reporters in Madrid the tennis tour felt like a 'rat race' and that he was 'running in a hamster wheel that never got anywhere'. Rublev's advice for his fellow players is to look inward. 'To be honest, it's nothing to do with tennis. It's just you can find excuses, how exhausted or mentally tired from playing non-stop, non-stop, but it's nothing to do with tennis,' said the Russian world No 10. 'In the end, tennis is just the trigger point. It's something inside of you that you need to face. It happens to everyone, because Sascha [Zverev], he really loves tennis, and Casper, and many players, they do love tennis. The ones who don't love, who don't like tennis, they are more relaxed. 'They don't really care because maybe they have different priorities, but the ones who love tennis, the tennis triggers you. 'You tell them to, tell Sascha or someone to take a break. It will get tough for him to take a break. He would love to play. For sure, Casper, maybe, for him it's not also easy. 'So, yeah, like I said, it's nothing to do with tennis. Tennis is just the trigger moment.' Karen Khachanov echoed those sentiments and said he chose to take three weeks off post-US Open last year because he 'wasn't in the best state of mind' during the summer. 'At the end of the day it's not only about having this time off, it's about really being fair, honest and satisfied with yourself. So what is really bothering you, why you are not enjoying it?' asked Khachanov. Anisimova is a prime example of how taking time off to address burnout and mental health concerns can really be beneficial for one's career in the future. The American spent eight months away from the sport before returning in 2024 and has now reached a maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. Jabeur is just the latest in a string of players speaking up and choosing to put themselves first. Here's hoping others will take notice and opt to prioritise their mental well-being, because the way I see it, burnout may seem truly inevitable but it can also be avoidable with the right approach.

The Best Tennis Bags to Protect Your Rackets Wherever You Go
The Best Tennis Bags to Protect Your Rackets Wherever You Go

Travel + Leisure

time14-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Travel + Leisure

The Best Tennis Bags to Protect Your Rackets Wherever You Go

Sure, you can show up to the tennis courts with just your tennis racket and a few tennis balls in tow (a good way to intimidate your opponents). But if you're serious about your gear, and prefer to keep your things organized, having a tennis bag is a must. The best tennis bags are spacious, comfortable to carry, keep your gear safe, and let you tote everything you'll need for a match, practice session, or lesson. I've been on the hunt for the best tennis bags for a while now, having realized that a simple canvas tote bag isn't quite enough for all of my gear. I need better protection for my rackets, more pockets for sweaty t-shirts and socks, and a few extra compartments for my keys, phone, wallet, and other everyday essentials. After testing a variety of bags, here are the best options to keep your gear safe and organized for every trip. The Tumi Tennis Racket Bag delivers the well-loved brand's signature blend of sophisticated design and smart functionality for tennis players. It holds up to two rackets in a dedicated split main compartment, keeping them protected from your other gear. Tumi thoughtfully addressed organization, utilizing specific pockets for all of your items, including an internal mesh pocket designed for up to three tennis balls, a media pocket, and multiple zip pockets for valuables and gear. We were impressed that the bag was easy to access even when hung up, a promise a lot of tennis bags make, but can't always follow through on. We think the bag is extremely well made and would hold up to rigorous use—we even wore it in the rain and had no issues with durability and the bag protected our gear easily. Its carrying options are exceptionally versatile: choose from comfortable top handles with a leather wrap, an innovative magnetic shoulder strap system that cleverly converts into backpack straps, or slide it over luggage handles using Tumi's Add-a-bag sleeve for travel. We tested the bag on multiple trips to Long Island City, via car and subway, and thought the bag made it easy to comfortably move around in both cases. Tumi also added some clever details to make it more practical for frequent use, such as an air vent to keep things from getting too stinky, a hideaway hook for easy fence attachment, a magnetic luggage tag, and an integrated key leash. And, like other Tumi bags, it includes access to the Tumi Tracer program, allowing you to track the bag with your phone. The Details: 12.5 x 29 x 2.5 inches | 2 racket capacity Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Babolat $100 at Amazon View on A versatile choice for players needing smart storage, the Babolat Pure Aero backpack is a great choice for players on a budget. We found that the bag's foldable racket compartment was about maxed out holding two rackets, though three should fit. When not needed, this section folds away neatly in the front of the pack. The bag uses a durable, water-resistant outer shell to keep your gear dry and utilizes Babolat's eco-conscious, dye-free lining that also protects against temperature changes. In addition to our two rackets, we also were able to pack the bag with a couple of sleeves of balls and a pair of tennis shoes, but we did notice that the bag could quickly feel overstuffed, so we think it's best for players who like to travel light. Finally, we love that we could pack a laptop in the bag along with all the tennis gear we need for a practice game or match. The Details: 13 x 8 x 30 inches | 3 racket capacity Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Caraa The Caraa Tennis Duffel is one of the most stylish bags we've seen, one we found to be perfect for casual sessions or as a versatile weekender bag. Its distinctive quilted exterior is made from water-repellent recycled materials and is paired with a water-resistant, antimicrobial lining for added protection. The dedicated, insulated racket compartment on the exterior was able to comfortably hold two rackets, keeping them secure and protected from the elements. Inside, we found the duffel to be incredibly organized, featuring perfectly sized water bottle and ball pockets, a zippered pocket, and open compartments to keep essentials easily accessible. Carrying is a breeze thanks to the comfortable, long over-the-shoulder handles with vegan leather accents, preventing shoulder strain. Despite its generous capacity for shoes, balls, and personal items, its design ensures it's never cumbersome, making it an ideal, durable companion for court-goers and travelers alike. The Details: 14.5 x 24 x 8.5 inches | 2 racket capacity Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure An ideal tennis bag for players who need to carry a ton of gear or like to tote the entire family's worth of rackets, the Wilson Shift Super Tour 9 is a great option. We were easily able to pack the bag with three rackets (though it can fit nine), multiple cans of balls, shoes, a change of clothes, and all of our tennis essentials. Its two main internal racket compartments feature an iridescent Thermoguard lining, offering excellent protection against extreme temperatures to keep your rackets and strings protected. While two external zippered compartments provide additional storage, we thought that more internal organization for dirty clothes or shoes would be a nice addition. We found the backpack straps to be comfortable and balanced while carrying, making even a fully packed bag feel remarkably light and easy to maneuver, even in spite of its large size. Built with lightweight, durable materials, the bag showed no signs of wear even after rigorous testing at a local club. Ultimately, we think it's a strong, structured bag that will withstand years of regular play and travel. The Details: 29 x 13 x 13 inches | 9 racket capacity Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Vessel One of the most well-respected brands in the golf and tennis worlds, Vessel is a great choice for the racket sport athlete. We like that the Baseline 2.0 DXR racket Bag emphasizes premium protection, particularly against temperature extremes (a must for summer tennis). It features a dedicated racket compartment lined with thermal insulation, specifically designed to shield your frames and strings from the damaging effects of extreme weather conditions. Aside from the insulating liner, we found the bag to have plenty of redeeming qualities. It has a spacious main compartment where we could stuff an extra racket, a few sleeves of balls, an extra shirt, and a towel. There's a dedicated shoe compartment and a valuables pocket with a magnetic closure for easy access to your phone, keys, or wallet as well. The Details: 13 x 12 x 29 inches | 6 racket capacity Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Leatherology Blending style and practicality with its heavy-duty organic cotton canvas and premium Italian leather trim, the Leatherology Tennis Sling is a great option for players who just need to carry a racket or two, plus some tennis balls. Space in the bag may be limited, but we think it's a stylish accessory that's perfect for a quick weekend match or taking the train to a new court for a hitting session with a friend. Its clever design features an expandable gusset to comfortably hold one or two rackets. Inside, you'll find a zippered pocket and a full-panel mesh pocket, ideal for organizing essentials like keys, a phone, or your wallet. The adjustable strap is comfortable and holds the rackets close to the body, which is nice for navigating busy areas or public transportation on the way to the court. The Details: 11.5 x 1.5 x 17.5 inches | 2 racket capacity Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Amazon $275 at Amazon View on The ADV Tennis Bag is clearly designed with the tournament player in mind. Its standout features include a generous six racket capacity with a dedicated thermal-lined compartment that can protect two rackets from extreme temperatures and weather. During testing, we packed the bag with four rackets, shoes, extra clothes, towel, a water bottle, snacks, resistance bands, and tennis balls—an impressive haul. The bag's organization is its superpower, offering separate spaces for shoes, clothes (even dirty ones), toiletries, and valuables, plus a clever built-in cooler to keep your water cold. We thought the bag was durable and comfortable to carry, but we did note that its bulk made it difficult to carry in busy areas or through tight doorways. If space is limited, we probably wouldn't recommend this bag. However, if you are driving to the courts or aren't worried about having room to move on your way to the racket club, we think this is a great pick. The Details: 30 x 14 x 12 inches | 6 racket capacity Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure We tested a variety of tennis bags, taking them to our local recreational courts and indoor tennis clubs across the country from San Francisco to New York City. We made sure to test a wide variety of bags, from slings to huge tournament-ready bags that can carry rackets, clothes, gear, and even laptops. We made notes of our first impressions, digging around in each bag to get a feel for how much space we had for our gear, whether we could fit essentials like phone, keys, and water bottles, and did a once-over for quality. From there, we loaded the bags up and headed out to play. We put the bags through their paces, traveling to casual games with friends, tennis clinics and lessons, and competitive play. We also packed the bags in larger suitcases to determine how compatible they are for flying. On each outing, we looked at how our rackets fit and if they were protected, how the bag was to carry on public transportation, and whose needs it might be best suited for. We yanked on zippers, threw the bags around (just a little bit), and examined their overall durability. Look for bags made from sturdy, water-resistant materials with quality zippers and reinforced stitching to withstand regular use and protect your gear from the elements. Features like padded compartments and thermal lining are crucial for keeping your rackets protected against impacts and extreme temperatures, which is essential to preserve frame integrity and string tension. Investing in durability ensures your bag lasts longer and keeps your equipment safe. Consider bags with dedicated compartments for rackets, shoes (ideally a ventilated pocket), apparel, water bottles, balls, and smaller accessories like keys, phone, and grips. Well-designed pockets help you find items quickly, keep clean clothes separate from sweaty gear or shoes, and prevent items from getting damaged. Good organizations makes packing and accessing your essentials much more convenient before and after play, especially if you are going to be taking your tennis bag on a long trip. While most tennis bags accommodate standard adult racket lengths (typically around 27 inches), ensure the designated racket compartment provides a secure fit without excessive movement. This helps protect the frames and strings during transport. More importantly, choose a bag capacity based on the number of rackets you regularly carry with you. Frequently Asked Questions Consider how many rackets you need to carry and the amount of extra gear you like to keep with you. Think balls, extra clothes, towels, water, and the like. Choose a racket capacity and carry style that suits your needs—if you never need to carry more than two rackets, you probably don't need one made to carry nine. Also, features like thermal-lined compartments for racket protection and dedicated pockets for organization are a must. Most tennis bags are suitable as a carry-on bag, but check your airline's specific policies regarding size and weight limits on sports equipment, as the largest tennis bags may need to be checked. Pack your rackets securely, often buffered by clothes or a towel, and consider using a durable bag or hard case for better protection during transit. Organize your bag by placing rackets in their designated compartment first, utilizing the thermal lining (if available). Next, use the remaining pockets for shoes, balls, water bottles, towels, extra apparel, grips, and personal items to keep things tidy and accessible. Make sure heavier items are balanced for comfortable carrying and security if you do end up checking your tennis bag. Will Porter has spent the past few years breaking back into tennis by taking lessons and playing matches with friends. He's a devout gear obsessive, so picking out the right bag has been a long journey, making sure he can not only keep his rackets safe and protected, but also keep all the gear he needs on him each time he hits the courts. He worked with the T+L team to test a variety of tennis bags to find the best options for all travelers. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.

Live Djokovic fights back to draw level with De Minaur
Live Djokovic fights back to draw level with De Minaur

Telegraph

time07-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Telegraph

Live Djokovic fights back to draw level with De Minaur

2:59PM Djokovic* 1-6, 5-3 De Minaur Better from Djokovic as he moves to 40-15. Djokovic hammers down an ace, sending white chalk flying to hold. 2:56PM Djokovic 1-6, 4-3 De Minaur* This topsy-turvy set takes another turn as Djokovic brings up three break points. Djokovic goes for the drop shot but this time the ball clips the net and drops short, making it tough for De Minaur to reach it and he nets a forehand. 2:51PM Djokovic* 1-6, 3-3 De Minaur De Minaur is at it again on the Djokovic serve, moving to 0-30. Djokovic pegs him back to 30-all. But a drop shot into the net gives De Minaur a break point. Really risky shot against one of the fastest players on tour. Saved by Djokovic when De Minaur nets a forehand. Wow. De Minaur finds the baseline with a forehand return over the highes part of the net. Djokovic serve and volleys, De Minaur hits a cross-court forehand and Djokovic nets the volley. De Minaur breaks. 2:43PM Djokovic* 1-6, 3-1 De Minaur After nearly 18 minutes to win his previous service game, he needs just 100 seconds to hold here and consolidate his break. That was an excruciating second game of the second set - lasting nearly 19 minutes and featuring nine deuces - and could yet prove definitive. After breaking in the previous game, the bookies had moved Djokovic into long odds-on as he looked primed to storm through the second set to level. De Minaur would not be budged, however. 2:40PM Djokovic 1-6, 2-1 De Minaur* Important for De Minaur to hold here after working so far to break. But he gives Djokovic a break point when he sends a backhand long. Longest rally of the match, you can feel the tension as they go back and forth, and De Minaur cracks on the 34th shot, sending a sliced backhand wide. That was the longest rally of the tournament. And it was won by the oldest man left in the competition. Djokovic breaks. 2:35PM Djokovic* 1-6, 1-1 De Minaur Good response from De Minaur, who keep peppering the Djokovic forehand and drawing the mistakes. De Minaur earns a chance to break back but sends a forehand long, deuce. Another opportunity for De Minaur when Djokovic sends a backhand long. Tight looking forehand from De Minaur flies long. Lacked the conviction we've seen from him so far. But he earns a third chance after another cagey rally. As we move towards 12 minutes, can he rise to the moment? No. De Minaur slams a forehand return into the net. Djokovic forehand long hands De Minaur a fourth chance. He has to take this surely?! No. Djokovic with his best one-two punch of the match, a big serve followed by a forehand winner, deuce. Outrageous speed from De Minaur to reach a Djokovic drop shot and slam a forehand winner into the corner. Fifth break point. Great point. Djokovic digs out a volley winner and earns applause from De Minaur. Djokovic goes wide with a backhand volley and we are at our ninth deuce. Sixth break point for De Minaur when Djokovic fails to put away an overhead and the Australian passes him with a backhand. Finally, after 18 minutes and 53 seconds, De Minaur finally gets the job done with when he dashes forehand and hits a forehand winner. 2:17PM Second set: Djokovic 1-6, 1-0 De Minaur* First time for Djokovic at 0-30 on De Minaur's serve as he chases forward and whips a forehand into the corner. Deep Djokovic return and De Minaur, off balance, nets a backhand, 15-40. Djokovic forces De Minaur into a difficult backhand volley, Djokovic sprints forehand and places a simple backhand down the line for a winner. A bit later then anticipated but Djokovic has arrived. 2:09PM Djokovic* 1-6 De Minaur Djokovic's shocking set continues as he slams a forehand into the net, 0-30. Yet another unforced error from Djokovic gives De Minaur three break point. Djokovic saves the first but after 30 minutes, De Minaur deservedly claims the set when Djokovic nets a forehand. 16 unforced errors from the Serbian. Djokovic does not look himself at all and there might have been a measure of him wanting to put this set behind ASAP. But De Minaur was electric in this 6-1 shocker and his quality should not be underestimated. This is the Australian's favourite surface and after last year's agony - when he had to pull out of a quarter-final with Djokovic due to a neck injury - is clearly intent on making the most of his second chance of lowering a Wimbledon icon. Centre Court is stunned. Still not full, though.

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