Top Tennis Stars Withdraw from Dubai, Escalating WTA Schedule Dispute
In a significant blow to one of the premier events on the women's tennis calendar, World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and World No 2 Iga Swiatek have both withdrawn from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. This move intensifies an ongoing row over the WTA's demanding schedule, with both players signalling their willingness to face penalties for skipping mandatory tournaments to prioritise their health and technical development.
Schedule Criticisms and Player Protests
The withdrawals were announced simultaneously by the tournament on Friday, just ahead of the event's start on Sunday, 15 February 2026. This marks the second WTA 1000 tournament of the season, and while the rest of the world's top-10 players are set to compete, Sabalenka and Swiatek's absence highlights growing discontent among elite athletes. Under current WTA rules, top women's players must participate in all four Grand Slams, ten WTA 1000 tournaments, and at least six WTA 500 events, with penalties ranging from rankings points deductions to fines for non-compliance.
Sabalenka, who has not played since losing the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina last month and also missed the Qatar Open, cited not feeling "100 per cent" as her reason for withdrawal. In January, she branded the season as "insane", criticising the governing body for prioritising its interests over player welfare. She explained, "The rules are quite tricky with mandatory events, but I'm still skipping a couple of events in order to protect my body, because I struggled a lot last season." Sabalenka added that she expects fines but is focused on better managing her schedule to avoid exhaustion and illness.
Technical Adjustments and Calendar Constraints
Swiatek, who competed in the Qatar Open but was defeated by Maria Sakkari in the quarter-finals on Thursday, withdrew from Dubai "due to a change of schedule" and confirmed her next event will be Indian Wells in March. Following her Australian Open quarter-final loss to Elena Rybakina, Swiatek expressed a need to skip some WTA 1000 tournaments to address technical issues she couldn't resolve during the off-season. She stated, "I don't feel it's possible to do that in the short period of time that we have between tournaments." Swiatek emphasised that improving her game requires dedicated time, which the packed calendar doesn't allow, leading her to make this strategic decision despite potential repercussions.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships expressed regret over the withdrawals, noting, "We are sorry that Aryna and Iga have both withdrawn from this year’s tournament. They both have huge amounts of followers here in Dubai, and we were looking forward to seeing them competing on our courts once again." The tournament extended wishes for their continued success and anticipation for their return next year.
Broader Implications for Women's Tennis
This incident underscores a broader debate within professional tennis about player workload and the balance between commercial interests and athlete well-being. Both Sabalenka and Swiatek's actions challenge the WTA's mandatory event structure, potentially prompting discussions on schedule reforms. As the sport grapples with these issues, the withdrawals from a key tournament like Dubai may influence future policies to better support players' long-term health and performance.
