Aryna Sabalenka Labels Dubai Championship Criticism ‘Ridiculous’ Amid Injury Withdrawal

World number one Aryna Sabalenka and then-world number two Iga Swiatek both pulled out of the WTA 1000 Dubai Championships on February 13, just two days before the tournament was scheduled to begin. While Swiatek cited a scheduling change as her reason for skipping the event, Sabalenka withdrew due to injury concerns.

Their late withdrawals disappointed the tournament organizers, with director Salah Tahlak suggesting that the WTA Tour might consider tougher measures for last-minute pull-outs, including the potential deduction of ranking points.

Sabalenka Hits Back at Criticism

Responding to the backlash, Sabalenka described the criticism as “ridiculous” and hinted that she may avoid returning to Dubai in the future. "I don't think he showed himself in the best way possible," said the four-time Grand Slam champion.

She further expressed frustration over the lack of protection for players, adding, "It's actually so sad to see that the tournament directors and the tournaments are not protecting us as players. They just care about their [sales], about their tournament and that's it. I'm not sure if I ever want to go there after his comment. For me it's too much."

Prioritizing Health and Scheduling Challenges

Sabalenka recently clinched her first Indian Wells Open title, marking her first tournament victory since finishing as runner-up at the Australian Open in January. Discussing her approach to the 2026 season, she emphasized the importance of managing her health.

"Going into this season, we decided... to prioritise my health and make sure we have these little gaps in the schedule where I can reset, recharge, work and be better prepared for bigger tournaments," she said. She also highlighted the increasing pressure on players due to scheduling: "I feel like the scheduling is going crazy and that's why you see so many players injured, always taped and not delivering the best quality matches because it's almost impossible."

Sabalenka will now turn her focus to defending her Miami Open title this week, while keeping health and performance as top priorities.