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Miami Gardens Today
By the People, for the People
Sabalenka Considers Skipping Dubai Tournament After Director's Remarks
Top-ranked Belarusian player criticizes tournament director's comments questioning player withdrawals.
Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:53pm
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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka said she may skip future editions of the Dubai Tennis Championships after tournament director Salah Tahlak made comments questioning the reasons for her and other top players' withdrawals from the event last month. Sabalenka called Tahlak's remarks "ridiculous" and said she's "not sure if I ever want to go there" after his comments.
Why it matters
Sabalenka's comments highlight the ongoing tension between top players and tournament organizers over scheduling and withdrawal policies. As one of the mandatory WTA 1000 events, the Dubai tournament is an important stop on the women's tennis calendar, and Sabalenka's potential boycott could have significant implications.
The details
Sabalenka and World No. 3 Iga Swiatek both withdrew from last month's Dubai Tennis Championships, with Sabalenka citing not feeling "100%" and Swiatek citing a "change of schedule." Tournament director Salah Tahlak criticized the players' reasons, suggesting "a harsher punishment" than fines for withdrawals, including docking of ranking points. Sabalenka called Tahlak's comments "ridiculous" and said she's unsure if she'll return to the tournament in the future.
- Sabalenka and Swiatek withdrew from the Dubai Tennis Championships in February 2026.
- Sabalenka made her comments about potentially skipping future Dubai events at the Miami Open media day on March 17, 2026.
The players
Aryna Sabalenka
The current World No. 1 women's tennis player.
Salah Tahlak
The tournament director of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Iga Swiatek
The current World No. 3 women's tennis player.
What they’re saying
“It was an unfortunate surprise [Feb. 13] to get news of the withdrawal of Aryna and Iga. And the reasons for withdrawal were a bit strange. Iga said she wasn't mentally ready to compete, while Sabalenka said she has some minor injuries.”
— Salah Tahlak, Tournament Director, Dubai Tennis Championships
“It's actually so sad to see that the tournament director and the tournaments are not protecting us as players. They just care about their tournament and that's it, and his comment was ridiculous. I'm not sure if I ever want to go there, like, after his comment. For me, it's too much.”
— Aryna Sabalenka
“I just feel Iga and Aryna have played that tournament so many times and it wasn't anything personal to it. It's tough. We're trying our best to play the calendar. It's tough. I completely understand why she would feel like that because I do think the comments were unnecessary.”
— Coco Gauff, WTA Player
What’s next
The Dubai Tennis Championships is scheduled to take place in February 2027, and it remains to be seen if Sabalenka will participate after her critical comments about the tournament director.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between top players and tournament organizers over scheduling, withdrawal policies, and the need for more understanding and flexibility on both sides to support the physical and mental wellbeing of the athletes.
