The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will be without its top two stars after World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and World No. 2 Iga Świątek withdrew from the event. The WTA 1000 tournament is scheduled to take place from February 15 to 21, immediately after the Qatar Open concludes on February 14.
WTA 1000 Event in Dubai Suffers Major Blow As Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka Announce Their Withdrawal
Sabalenka and Świątek are undoubtedly two of the biggest names on the WTA tour and would have been the top two seeds in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Instead, both have withdrawn from the tournament, leaving the draw without its headline attractions. The withdrawals were first reported by journalist Reem Abulleil on social media.
In her statement, Świątek expressed disappointment at being unable to compete at the WTA 1000 event, citing a “change of schedule” as the reason for her decision. The Pole added that she hopes to return to the tournament next year and announced that she would compete at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
“I am sorry to announce that I will not be playing Dubai this year due to a change of schedule. I hope I will come back next year to experience the great tournament. See you guys in Indian Wells,” she announced.
Meanwhile, the World No.1 also voiced her disappointment at missing the event, noting her special connection with the city. She explained that she is not fully fit to compete and expressed hope of returning to the tournament next year.
“I’m really sorry I have to withdraw from Dubai. I have such a special connection with the tournament, the fans and the city. Unfortunately, I am not feeling 100 %. But I hope to be back next year and wish the tournament a great event,” she said.
BREAKING:
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have both withdrawn from the WTA 1000 event in Dubai.
Iga’s statement: “I am sorry to announce that I will not be playing Dubai this year due to a change of schedule. I hope I will come back next year to experience the great… pic.twitter.com/xsVXfhl8TG
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 13, 2026
The withdrawals come after Świątek signaled she may skip select WTA 1000 events following her Australian Open quarterfinal exit, stressing that the packed calendar leaves little time for meaningful improvement. Aryna Sabalenka had voiced similar concerns in Brisbane, calling the season physically demanding and difficult to manage.
MORE: Iga Świątek Signals Shift in Strategy As She Backs Aryna Sabalenka’s Stand on Skipping WTA Events
Sabalenka opened her 2026 season at the Brisbane International, immediately reasserting her authority on tour. The Belarusian moved confidently through the draw and capped her run with a straight-sets victory over Marta Kostyuk in the final to claim the title.
She then showed similar dominance at the Australian Open, reaching the final yet again before falling to Elena Rybakina in three sets.
Meanwhile, Świątek launched her season at the Australian Open, cruising through the draw with straight-sets wins in all but her third-round clash against Anna Kalinskaya to reach the quarterfinals. Her campaign was halted by fifth seed Elena Rybakina.
A similar pattern followed at the Qatar Open, where Świątek’s run again ended in the last eight, this time at the hands of Maria Sakkari.
