Ranking Points Deduction Proposal After Withdrawals
Tournament director Salah Tahlak has proposed penalizing players with deducted ranking points for last-minute withdrawals from tournaments, following the recent exits of Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Late Withdrawals from Dubai Event
The top two players in the world chose to withdraw just as the qualifying rounds began, announcing their decision on Friday evening.
Sabalenka’s Last-Minute Exit
Sabalenka, who recently lost to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final, had previously pulled out of the Qatar Open and was set to make her comeback in Dubai. After practicing at the Atlantis the Royal hotel, she cited a right hip injury as the reason for her withdrawal.
Swiatek’s Reason for Skipping
Swiatek, defeated by Maria Sakkari in Doha’s quarter-finals, stated that a schedule change was the reason for her absence from the Dubai tournament.
High-Quality Matches Expected Despite Withdrawals
With 16 of the top 20 players still participating, Tahlak is confident about the tournament’s quality. However, he expressed surprise over the withdrawals of Sabalenka and Swiatek and suggested that imposing point deductions could deter similar last-minute exits in the future.
Gauff Voices Concerns Over Point Deductions
In light of the recent discussions, World No. 5 Coco Gauff stated that players don’t take the decision to withdraw lightly and argued against the fairness of docking ranking points. She highlighted the demanding nature of the current tennis calendar and the potential negative impact on players’ performance as a reason to reconsider such penalties.
Calls for Re-evaluation of Scheduling
With various players, including Gauff, pointing out the increasing demands placed on them due to a packed schedule, the proposal for a more flexible approach—such as an optional WTA 1000 tournament—could resonate, allowing greater player autonomy in managing their season.
