Aryna Sabalenka Hits Back at Dubai Open After Withdrawal Criticism

Following a brief respite after her impressive run to the Australian Open final, Aryna Sabalenka immediately resumed her dominant form, securing the Indian Wells title with a decisive victory over Elena Rybakina.

This triumph elevated the Belarusian's 2026 season record to an outstanding 17-1, a streak that includes a championship win in Brisbane and a finals appearance at the Australian Open.

Dubai Absence Sparks Controversy

Amidst this stellar performance, Sabalenka chose to sit out the entire Middle East swing, citing fatigue for her withdrawals from both the Qatar Open and the Dubai Open. While understandable, her decision to skip the Dubai event, where she is a resident, particularly raised eyebrows and fueled discussion.

The situation drew sharp criticism from the Dubai Open tournament director. After both Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek pulled out, he publicly called for more stringent penalties, such as docking ranking points, for players missing significant tournaments. He expressed bewilderment at their stated reasons, noting Swiatek cited a lack of mental readiness and Sabalenka mentioned minor injuries, describing them as "a bit strange."

Aryna Sabalenka Responds Forcefully

Sabalenka has now delivered a strong rebuttal. During her pre-tournament press conference at the Miami Open, the World No. 1 declared, "I'm not sure if I ever want to go [back] there, after his comment."

This isn't the first instance Sabalenka has voiced such concerns. Earlier in the year, she acknowledged the contemporary tennis calendar's demanding nature makes it unfeasible to maintain a schedule similar to past legends like Serena Williams. At this juncture of her career, Sabalenka's priority is maximizing her prime and safeguarding her health. Consequently, she has deliberately chosen to skip more events than some of her peers in recent years to ensure she remains fresh for the four Grand Slams. Her latest remarks strongly suggest the Dubai Open could become a tournament she permanently avoids on her schedule.