Victoria Mboko has become the latest WTA player to withdraw from the Dubai Tennis Championships, which is now underway.
Mboko was scheduled to play against Jaqueline Cristian in the first round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai this week.
But the Canadian star, who just lost in the final of the Qatar Open in Doha, decided to withdraw just before the match.
The Dubai Tennis Championships have immediately followed the Qatar Open, where Karolina Muchova defeated Mboko to clinch the title.
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Victoria Mboko withdraws from Dubai with right elbow injury
Mboko would have been eager to enjoy another lengthy run in Dubai, but a right elbow injury has forced her to withdraw.
She has been replaced at the tournament by Petra Marcinko, the seventh lucky loser to enter the main draw.
Mboko’s withdrawal is one of several due to injury, with Aryna Sabalenka out of Dubai because of a right hip issue.
Also deciding against playing at the WTA 1000 tournament having previously committed are Iga Swiatek, Qinwen Zheng, Maria Sakkari, Muchova and Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
There has also been an early retirement, with Hailey Baptiste unable to complete her opening match against Alexandra Eala.
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Victoria Mboko makes correct decision to withdraw from Dubai
While frustrating for fans and the tournament itself, many of the high-profile withdrawals are more than understandable.
Back-to-back WTA 1000 tournaments are in the schedule right after the Australian Open, which is always a physically and mentally demanding Grand Slam at the start of the year.
Mboko played both singles and doubles at that tournament in Melbourne, and did the same at the Qatar Open in Doha.
The season hasn’t even reached the end of February, but the youngster has already played 17 matches across four tournaments.
That is a huge amount of tennis for any player across both the WTA and ATP tours, never mind a 19-year-old.
Mboko has to manage her physical and mental outputs at this crucial stage of her career, which is now just shy of 200 matches already.
Even without an injury, playing in Dubai would have been an unnecessary decision from the teenager, who doesn’t need to take such risks right now.
Mboko is the perfect example to the rest of the WTA Tour, boasting two titles and having already broken into the top 10 of the world rankings.
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