Elena Rybakina has been one of the standout players on the WTA Tour in 2026, although her latest venture in Dubai has just reached an abrupt ending.
Rybakina was forced to retire during her Dubai Tennis Championships round of 16 match against Antonia Ruzic, with both players having won one set each.
Australian Open champion Rybakina committed to Dubai while many of her main WTA rivals didn’t, including Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
Several other high-profile players followed in their footsteps, while many more have been forced to retire early from matches due to injury or fatigue, like Rybakina.
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Elena Rybakina would ‘gladly’ have longer Dubai Tennis Championships
Rybakina discussed the tournament itself shortly before her withdrawal, having suggested a change she would like to see to the Dubai Tennis Championships.
“I spend so much time here,” she said after her opening win over Kimberly Birrell. “So it feels like home.
“Actually, a lot of people who work here always say, ‘Welcome back, welcome home,’ and it’s really nice.
“This tournament is actually quick, for me at least.
“I would gladly have it be a little bit longer with maybe a day in between (matches), but it’s a really nice atmosphere on the court and I feel a lot of support, so it’s really nice to play here.”
Such a change would allow players more time to rest and recover, but that would have a major impact on the overall schedule.
The Dubai Tennis Championships arrived immediately after another WTA 1000 tournament in Doha, Qatar.
That followed Rybakina’s successful run at the Australian Open, while the Merida Open and ATX Open follow Dubai in the busy schedule.
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Rybakina was the top seed in Dubai amid the absence of Sabalenka and Swiatek, although that didn’t exactly work in her favor regarding the draw.
However, despite Rybakina’s tough Dubai draw, she started very strongly with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 win over Birrell.
But illness and tiredness have been impacting the world number three since Australia, forcing her to end her time in Dubai early.
| Year | Titles | Tournaments |
| 2026 | 1 | Australian Open |
| 2025 | 3 | WTA Finals, Ningbo, Strasbourg |
| 2024 | 3 | Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, Stuttgart |
| 2023 | 2 | Indian Wells, Rome |
| 2022 | 1 | Wimbledon |
| 2020 | 1 | Hobart |
| 2019 | 1 | Bucharest |
It’s a huge blow for Rybakina but a boost for her rivals, who would not have wanted to face the two-time Grand Slam champion, even with her illness.
She very much had history on her side, with her 23 wins in the Middle East since 2023 more than any other player on the WTA Tour.
Defending champion Mirra Andreeva remains in the draw, but she now has a very tricky quarterfinal test against Amanda Anisimova.
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