Professional tennis stars Madison Keys and Ons Jabeur have confirmed their intentions to return to the WTA Tour in 2027.
Keys, 31, decided to step away from the sport following a loss at the 2026 US Open, as noted by Yahoo Sports.
The veteran athlete had spent 17 years as a professional and expressed significant physical and mental exhaustion after her final match of that season.
Speculation regarding her potential retirement grew during the 2026 WTA Finals as she successfully pursued broadcasting roles with Sky Sports and Tennis Channel, according to The Big Lead.
Keys eventually clarified her future by announcing on Tennis Channel that she plans to resume her professional career next year.
Meanwhile, 32-year-old Ons Jabeur is preparing for a comeback following maternity leave.
The three-time Grand Slam finalist has not competed on the tour since the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, as stated by TNT Sports.
Jabeur gave birth to her son, Elyan, in April 2026.
While a specific return date remains unknown, Jabeur has noted that her body has changed significantly following childbirth.
She joins a growing group of tennis mothers, including Naomi Osaka and Elina Svitolina, who are balancing professional careers with parenthood, per reporting from The Big Lead.
Both players acknowledge that returning to the 11-month tennis season presents substantial challenges due to the rigorous demands of conditioning and practice.
However, analysts suggest that their status as veterans provides an advantage in preparation and mental freshness.
This trend of successful returns has been observed previously, notably with the performance of Amanda Anisimova during her 2025 season comeback, as cited by The Big Lead.
Keys and Jabeur are now focused on their respective training regimens as they prepare for the upcoming 2027 season.