Dubai organizers urge WTA to dock points after Swiatek, Sabalenka pull out
Dubai tournament director Salah Tahlak has called for the WTA to implement mandatory ranking point deductions as a primary sanction after world number one Aryna Sabalenka and world number two Iga Swiatek withdrew from the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Iga Swiatek, Doha 2026 | © Qatar Tennis
Dubai tournament director Salah Tahlak has called for the WTA to implement ranking point deductions as a primary sanction after world number one Aryna Sabalenka and world number two Iga Swiatek withdrew from the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Speaking on Saturday following the draw ceremony at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, and in subsequent interviews Sunday, Tahlak expressed profound frustration with the current penalty system for late withdrawals. “The only way to make sure the top players come and play is by docking them points,” Tahlak said. “Fines do not work anymore. If you dock them points, then they will think twice before they withdraw. It is not fair to the fans who buy tickets months in advance to see the best in the world.”
I won’t pay attention to which tournaments are mandatory or where I risk losing positions in the rankings.
Tahlak suggested penalties of 500 to 1,000 points, arguing that the financial impact of a fine is negligible for elite players earning millions.
Under the current 2026 WTA Rulebook, Dubai is a mandatory 1000-level event. Players who withdraw late face a monetary fine and a zero-pointer on their ranking that remains for 52 weeks. While injuries require verification from a tournament doctor to waive certain penalties, the rules allow players to cite a change of schedule three times per season.
This specific exemption avoids a fine but still results in a zero-pointer. Tahlak noted that he questioned the tournament doctor regarding Sabalenka’s injury, who described it as a minor issue that would not typically force a withdrawal.
Sabalenka : “My team and I decided that longevity is the priority for 2026.”
Aryna Sabalenka withdrew citing a hip injury, continuing her trend of selective scheduling after skipping Doha. Her decision aligns with statements she made in January during the season opener in Brisbane. “I have learned that I have to listen to my body if I want to stay at the top for a long time,” Sabalenka said at the start of the year. “My team and I decided that longevity is the priority for 2026. I want to play for many more years, and that means being selective even when it is difficult to miss great tournaments like Dubai.”
Iga Swiatek’s withdrawal for a change of schedule follows her quarterfinal loss in Doha. “I am feeling very drained right now, both mentally and physically,” Swiatek said last week. “The transition between these big tournaments is very fast, and my body is telling me to stop.” This stance was predicted in November 2025, when Swiatek told reporters at the WTA Finals that the calendar was excessive.
“I won’t pay attention to which tournaments are mandatory or where I risk losing positions in the rankings,” she said then. “I will organize my 2026 as I see fit.”
Rybakina leading the draw
The tournament, which began Sunday, February 15, has been hit by a wave of other high-profile absences. The list of withdrawals includes Madison Keys (change of schedule), Naomi Osaka (abdominal injury), Marta Kostyuk (ankle), Veronika Kudermetova (microsurgery), Marketa Vondrousova (shoulder), Lois Boisson (leg), McCartney Kessler (lower back), and Eva Lys (knee).
Despite the absences, the draw remains pretty strong with world number three Elena Rybakina, the Australian Open winner, as the top seed. Amanda Anisimova enters as the second seed, followed by Mirra Andreeva as the fifth seed and 2024 champion Jasmine Paolini as the sixth seed.
