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Indian Wells Today
By the People, for the People
Top Tennis Stars Sabalenka and Swiatek Withdraw from Dubai Tournament
Fans surprised as world's top two players pull out of upcoming WTA Masters 1000 event
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Swiatek have both withdrawn from the upcoming Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The two tennis stars cited health and schedule changes as the reasons for their absence from the WTA Masters 1000 event.
Why it matters
Sabalenka and Swiatek are the top two ranked players on the WTA Tour, so their withdrawals from a major tournament like Dubai are unexpected and will impact the competitive landscape. Their absences open up opportunities for other players to make deep tournament runs and potentially win the title.
The details
Sabalenka said she is "not feeling 100%" and apologized for having to withdraw, while Swiatek cited a "change of schedule" as the reason for her absence. Swiatek is next scheduled to play at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in March, but Sabalenka did not specify when she would return to competition.
- The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships are scheduled for February 15-21, 2026.
- Swiatek lost in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open earlier this week.
- Sabalenka's last match was the Australian Open final on January 31, 2026, where she lost to Elena Rybakina.
The players
Aryna Sabalenka
The current world No. 1 women's tennis player, who has a singles record of 11-1 with one title so far this season.
Iga Swiatek
The current world No. 2 women's tennis player, who has a singles record of 7-3 with zero titles so far this season.
What they’re saying
“I'm really sorry I have to withdraw from Dubai. I have such a special connection with the tournament, the fans, and the city. Unfortunately, I am not feeling 100%. But I hope to be back next year and wish the tournament a great event.”
— Aryna Sabalenka (si.com)
“I am sorry to announce that I will not be playing Dubai this year due to a change of schedule. I hope I will come back next year to experience the great tournament. See you guys in Indian Wells.”
— Iga Swiatek (si.com)
What’s next
Swiatek's next scheduled tournament is the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California from March 4-15, 2026. Sabalenka did not specify when she would return to competition.
The takeaway
The withdrawals of the world's top two players from the Dubai tournament are surprising, but open up opportunities for other players to make a mark. It remains to be seen how this will impact the competitive landscape on the WTA Tour in the lead-up to the Indian Wells Masters event.
