Ranking Points

Dubai director seeks tougher penalties for late player withdrawals

16 Mwezi wa pili, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI Picha iliyoundwa na AI

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships faced disruptions as world number one Aryna Sabalenka and number two Iga Swiatek withdrew late, prompting tournament director Salah Tahlak to demand ranking point deductions from the WTA. Tahlak described the reasons for their exits as strange and argued that fines alone are insufficient. Other top players also pulled out, highlighting concerns over the packed WTA schedule.