Iga Swiatek defended players' rights to withdraw from tournaments during a press conference ahead of the French Open. Her comments follow controversy sparked by withdrawals from the Dubai Championships.
Iga Swiatek addressed remarks by Dubai tournament director Salah Tahlak, who suggested harsher penalties including ranking-point deductions for late withdrawals. Swiatek said she found the idea absurd and stressed that players have the right to decide whether to compete. She noted that receiving zero points already serves as a penalty for withdrawals. The issue arose after Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka both pulled out of the Dubai event shortly before it began. Sabalenka cited a minor hip injury and concerns over burnout, while Swiatek pointed to a schedule change following her loss in the Qatar final. Tahlak described the withdrawals as an unfortunate surprise and called for stricter measures. Sabalenka had previously labeled the director's comments ridiculous and hinted at a possible boycott of the event. Swiatek also discussed a media protest at Roland Garros, emphasizing respect for journalists while calling for better support for all players. She is scheduled to face Emerson Jones of Australia in the first round on Monday.
