BENGALURU:

Former world number two Ons Jabeur said she was putting herself first for a change and would take control of her schedule after becoming depressed during a punishing run on tour.

The men's and women's circuits have come under scrutiny recently due to their packed calendars, with a host of players including Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, Daria Kasatkina, Elina Svitolina and Paula Badosa cutting their seasons short.

Three-times Grand Slam runner-up Jabeur, who has been dubbed the 'Minister of Happiness' for her jovial personality, took a break from competitive tennis in July to focus on her health.

"The schedule is killing everyone," she told Sky Sports. "I hope the tennis community will listen to us and lower some of the tournaments. It's piling up, for example, Doha and Dubai.

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