Tournament director Salah Tahlak has criticized the late withdrawals of top players Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka from the Dubai Tennis Championships, demanding stricter penalties including loss of ranking points. Swiatek cited a change of schedule, while Sabalenka mentioned a minor hip injury. Tahlak described the reasons as strange and argued that fines alone are insufficient to deter such actions.
The Dubai Tennis Championships, a mandatory WTA 1000 event, faced a setback on February 14, 2026, when world number one Iga Swiatek and world number two Aryna Sabalenka withdrew just one day before the tournament began. Swiatek announced her decision due to a change of schedule, a provision that allows her to avoid financial penalties under WTA regulations. She stated, "I am sorry to announce that I will not be playing Dubai this year due to a change of schedule. I hope I will come back next year to experience the great tournament. See you guys in Indian Wells."
Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, withdrew citing a right hip injury, which was confirmed by a tournament doctor as minor and not severe enough to necessitate pulling out. In her apology, she said, "I'm really sorry I have to withdraw from Dubai. I have such a special connection with the tournament, the fans, and the city. Unfortunately, I am not feeling 100%. But I hope to be back next year and wish the tournament a great event."
Salah Tahlak, the tournament director, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the withdrawals, calling them an "unfortunate surprise." He questioned the validity of the reasons, noting that Swiatek mentioned not being mentally ready and Sabalenka's injury was deemed insignificant by medical staff. Tahlak argued for harsher sanctions beyond fines, stating, "I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players, not just fines, they should be docked ranking points. A monetary fine won't help." He referenced a past instance where Serena Williams was fined $100,000 for a similar withdrawal, emphasizing that such penalties are negligible compared to potential earnings elsewhere.
Tahlak plans to raise the issue at an upcoming meeting in Rome with WTA representatives, highlighting the financial investments in facilities and the central role players play in the event's success. The tournament proceeds with a strong field, including top seed Elena Rybakina, despite the absences.
