The wait finally has a finish line. Tunisian Jabeur targeting WTA Tour return in 2027 has become the defining storyline of her off-season, with the 32-year-old setting a clear timeline for her comeback after stepping away from competition in 2025. The news first surfaced in late August 2026 and has framed every conversation about her since. No half-measures, no mid-season scramble - just a full, patient rebuild with one goal in sight: a healthy Jabeur back on tour in 2027.
Her last official tour match came in 2025, and her absence stretched right through the second half of that season - a long road back by any measure. Crucially, Jabeur isn't rushing it. Choosing 2027 over a mid-2026 cameo gives her a full season to rebuild fitness and match sharpness rather than chasing ranking points on a body that needs time. It's a smart, long-game approach for a player who'll turn 32 during the 2027 season.
Reports through 2026 placed her training with a team in Tunisia and Monaco while she rehabilitates - a base that keeps her close to family and her long-time support network. That stability matters. Comebacks are built in the quiet hours, not the spotlight.
Here's the caveat fans should know: no specific 2027 tournament - not the Australian Open, not Abu Dhabi or Dubai - has been publicly confirmed as her return event. Entry lists for January 2027 are the next real checkpoint.
> 📊 No. 2 in the world (June 27, 2022) - Jabeur's career-high ranking, the highest ever by an African woman, is the benchmark this comeback is chasing.
From World No. 2 to the Comeback Trail
Let's not forget what we're talking about here. Jabeur climbed to No. 2 in the world on June 27, 2022, after a spring that saw her win Madrid and Berlin. That version of Jabeur could beat anyone on any surface - and fans remember it vividly.
Then came the Slam heartbreaks that defined the "so close" chapter: the Wimbledon 2022 final (lost to Elena Rybakina), the US Open 2022 final (lost to Iga Świątek), and the Wimbledon 2023 final (lost to Markéta Vondroušová). Three major finals, three near-misses - but three runs that made her one of the most beloved players of her generation.
The trophy case is nothing to sniff at either:
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Career-high ranking | No. 2 (June 27, 2022) |
| Grand Slam finals | Wimbledon 2022, 2023; US Open 2022 |
| WTA singles titles | 5 (including Madrid and Berlin, 2022) |
| Current status | Away from tour since 2025; ranking outside Top 100 |
With no matches played through her absence, her singles ranking has dropped outside the Top 100 - meaning any 2027 return likely comes via protected ranking, wildcards, or a grind back up the entry list.
What a 2027 Return Would Actually Look Like
Protected ranking is the key tool for players coming back from long layoffs - expect her team to lean on it heavily to get her straight into main draws. Wildcards will follow too; tournament directors will be lining up to offer them, because a Jabeur appearance sells tickets, full stop. And on the schedule front, don't expect a full calendar right away. A phased return with a limited, carefully chosen slate of events is the sensible play - protect the body, build the confidence, then let her loose.
What to Watch Between Now and 2027
The first concrete signal will be January entry lists. Watch the WTA entry lists for Australian Open 2027 and the Middle East swing in Abu Dhabi and Dubai - any Jabeur entry there ends the speculation overnight.
