Several notable WTA stars have also withdrawn from the ongoing WTA 500 event, the Merida Open. The wave of withdrawals, which began at the Dubai Duty Free Championships, has now extended to the Mexican tournament, with prominent names such as former World No. 2 Paula Badosa, Maria Sakkari, Daria Kasatkina, and others pulling out.
Dubai Withdrawal Trend Carries Into Mérida Open As Paula Badosa, Maria Sakkari and Others Pull Out
Player withdrawals across multiple tournaments have become a talking point on the WTA Tour. The trend was particularly noticeable ahead of the WTA 1000 event in Dubai, where several top names pulled out before the tournament even got underway.
Iga Świątek opted to skip the event due to scheduling considerations, while Aryna Sabalenka withdrew with a right hip injury. Sakkari and Qinwen Zheng were sidelined by illness, and Victoria Mboko was ruled out because of a right elbow injury.
In addition to the earlier withdrawals, Barbora Krejčíková and Elisabetta Cocciaretto were sidelined with left thigh injuries, further thinning the field. Karolína Muchová, fresh off her Qatar Open triumph, was also unable to participate due to scheduling constraints.
Meanwhile, Badosa’s ongoing physical struggles resurfaced when she retired from her second-round match against Elina Svitolina due to a right thigh injury.
This trend recently surfaced at the WTA 500 event in Mérida, where several top players withdrew. Badosa had confirmed her withdrawal a few days ago on social media, writing, “I am truly sorry to announce that I will not be able to be in Mérida this year. I was really looking forward to playing. I now need to recover properly and come back as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Maria Sakkari has not fully recovered from her illness and will also miss the tournament. In addition, Liudmila Samsonova, Diana Shnaider, Daria Kasatkina, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, and Jaqueline Cristian are among the other players set to be absent from the event.
Withdrawals – MERIDA W: Samsonova (left knee?), Shnaider (right knee?), Badosa (right thigh), Cristian (?), Kasatkina (right hip), Sakkari (illness?), Cocciaretto (left thigh).
— Tennisform (@Tennisform) February 23, 2026
Amid the wave of tournament withdrawals, Mexico is also grappling with escalating security concerns. The country has been placed on high alert following a surge of violence reportedly triggered after federal forces killed a powerful cartel leader known as “El Mencho.” The incident sparked retaliatory attacks by armed groups, leading to unrest in several regions.
