The big problem plaguing the WTA’s event in Dubai is getting worse and worse

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The Dubai Tennis Championships have had a tricky first few days to say the least…

Withdrawals and retirements have completely changed the landscape of the year’s second WTA 1000 event.

The bad news started when the world’s top two players, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, announced their withdrawals.

More withdrawals added to the chaos, before several stars retired mid-way through matches due to injury.

In total, 24 matches at the Dubai Tennis Championships have been affected.

What is going on at the Dubai Tennis Championships?

It’s tough to pinpoint the exact reason for the chaos at this year’s Dubai Tennis Championships.

But it’s hard to look past the schedule.

Players are tired, and injuries are becoming more common as the powers that be continue to add events to the calendar.

The WTA Tour can call an event ‘mandatory’, all they want, but that won’t stop players from withdrawing if their health is at risk.

Considering how tricky it is to play in the humid conditions of the Doha and Dubai tournaments, it’s no surprise that many have skipped at least one of the two Middle Eastern WTA 1000 events.

So, what is the solution?

Well, there’s not much they can do this year, as the tournament is well underway, but tournament organisers need a plan for 2027.

If there is an opportunity to move the event in the calendar, they should take it, as their current slot clearly isn’t working in their favor.

Perhaps a move to the end of the season, right before the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, could work?

Maybe it would work better to give players a week off between Doha and Dubai, although that would create another set of problems.

What doesn’t help is having the Dubai director criticise the likes of Swiatek and Sabalenka for withdrawing.

Where do you think she will be ranked?

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“I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players [for withdrawing], not just fines, they should be docked ranking points,” he said.

When players are dropping out left, right, and centre, the last thing you should do is call out two of the biggest names in women’s tennis.

Is that going to make Sabalenka and Swiatek more or less likely to return next year? Exactly…

Calmer heads need to prevail. Perhaps an apology would be a good first step, and then tournament organisers can plan a schedule change for 2027.

Every player who withdrew or retired in Dubai

Dubai Tennis Championships withdrawals

• Aryna Sabalenka – Replaced by Hailey Baptiste (LL)
• Iga Swiatek – Replaced by Peyton Stearns (LL)
• Victoria Mboko – Replaced by Petra Marcinko (LL)
• Karolina Muchova – Replaced by Anastasia Zakharova (LL)
• Naomi Osaka – Replaced by Alexandra Eala
• Madison Keys – Replaced by Katerina Siniakova
• Qinwen Zheng – Replaced by Magdalena Frech (LL)
• Marta Kostyuk – Replaced by Magda Linette
• Marketa Vondrousova – Replaced by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
• Eva Lys – Replaced by Tatjana Maria
• Maria Sakkari – Replaced by Kamilla Rakhimova (LL)
• Karolina Pliskova – Replaced by Cristina Bucsa
• Lois Boisson – Replaced by Daria Kasatkina
• Elisabetta Cocciaretto – Replaced by Antonia Ruzic (LL)
• McCartney Kessler – Replaced by Laura Siegemund
• Veronika Kudermetova – Replaced by Marie Bouzkova

Dubai Tennis Championships walkovers

• Sara Bejlek vs Belinda Bencic (2R)
• Daria Kasatkina vs Mirra Andreeva (2R)
• Barbora Krejcikova vs Amanda Anisimova (2R)

Dubai Tennis Championships retirements

• Hailey Baptiste vs Alexandra Eala (1R)
• Paula Badosa vs Elina Svitolina (2R)
• Ella Seidel vs Jaqueline Cristian (2R)

How many seeds remain at the Dubai Tennis Championships?

The withdrawals and retirements have certainly affected the Dubai WTA 1000 event, but how many of the 16 seeded players are still in with a chance of lifting the trophy?

As we head into the third round, 10 seeds remain.

Seeded players still competing in Dubai

The top three seeds, Elena Rybakina, Amanda Anisimova, and Coco Gauff, are all safely through to the third round.

As are the next four seeds, Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, and Elina Svitolina.

Tournament organisers will be desperate to see the names listed above advance to the quarterfinals.

A stacked quarterfinal line-up, filled with top-10 clashes, might just save what has been a tournament to forget.

It remains to be seen what else will happen in Dubai, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.

The third-round matches will be played on Wednesday, February 18.