Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka said she isn’t sure if she’ll return to the Dubai Championships after criticism from tournament director Salah Tahlak over her late withdrawal last month.
While speaking with reporters Tuesday ahead of the Miami Open, the World. No. 1 Sabalenka was asked about Tahlak’s previous remarks — when he said Sabalenka and fellow tennis star Iga Swiatek should be docked ranking points for withdrawing from the Dubai Championships, which he called an “unfortunate surprise.”
“I’m not sure if I ever want to go back there after his comment. For me it’s too much,” Sabalenka said, adding that Tahlak’s view on the matter is “ridiculous” and he did not represent himself “in the best way possible.”
“For me it’s so funny — not so ‘funny,’ it’s actually so sad — to see that the tournament director and the tournaments are not protecting us, as the players,” she continued. “They just care about their sellings, about their tournament, and that’s it.”
At the time, Sabalenka cited health reasons, saying, “I am not feeling 100 percent,” for her withdrawal two days before Tahlak’s WTA 1000 Dubai event, which she had participated in over the past nine consecutive seasons.
Swiatek, ranked No. 2 in the world, dropped out due to a change of schedule.
“It was an unfortunate surprise last night to get news of the withdrawal of Aryna and Iga,” Tahlak told The National mid-February. “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. I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players (for withdrawing). Not just fines — they should be docked ranking points.”
WTA 1000 events carry a rankings penalty.
Sabalenka — a four-time Grand Slam winner — has been open about the “insane” WTA schedule, saying in January that she had planned on skipping some WTA events.
WTA players are required to play in the four Grand Slams, six WTA 500 events, and 10 WTA 1000s under the association’s rules.
Fresh off winning her first Indian Wells championship on Sunday, Sabalenka will defend her title at the Miami Open, beginning Wednesday.
Sabalenka will play Ann Li of the U.S. or Australia’s Kimberly Birrell in her opening match.
Sabalenka and Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis announced their engagement ahead of Indian Wells.
