Sabalenka May Not Return To Dubai

At media day at the Miami Open, Aryna Sabalenka was asked what she thought or Dubai Tournament Director Salah Tahlak’s reaction to her withdrawal from the tournament. 

Tahlak, hit by withdrawals from top two seeds Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, called both players out and called for harsher penalties for late withdrawals. 

“It was an unfortunate surprise last night to get news of the withdrawal of Aryna and Iga. 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,” Tahlak said after the draw ceremony in Dubai last month.

“So I don’t know. I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players [for withdrawing], not just fines, they should be docked ranking points.”

Asked about today in Miami by Ben Rothenberg of Bounces, Sabalenka called Tahlak’s comments ridiculous, and said she may not play in Dubai again. 

“I think it’s ridiculous,” Sabalenka said during her pre-tournament press conference at the Miami Open, according to quotes published by the Guardian. “I don’t think he showed himself in the best way possible. For me it’s actually so sad to see that the tournament directors and the tournaments are not protecting us as a player. They just care about their sellings, about their tournament and that’s it. His comment was ridiculous. I’m not sure if I ever want to go there after his comment. For me it’s too much.”

Sabalenka, recently engaged, won the Indian Wells title on Sunday and will bid to become the fifth woman in history to complete the fabled Sunshine Double in Miami. She won the title in Miami last year, defeating Jessica Pegula in the final.