The team's concealment of the reason behind Zheng Qinwen's withdrawal has become a mystery, sparking outrage from the Dubai director who intends to punish Sabalenka and the "silk stockings".

Despite the heavy surge of withdrawals at this year's Dubai event, few caused as much astonishment as Zheng Qinwen did.

Since her comeback in Doha, Zheng Qinwen played three matches in a row, and both her mental state and performance seemed to be steadily improving, making many eager to see how she would do in Dubai.

However, just hours before her scheduled match against her confirmed opponent, Zheng Qinwen unexpectedly announced her withdrawal, shocking the public.

Although the official reason given for Zheng Qinwen's withdrawal was "illness," the suddenness of the announcement without any prior signs caught everyone off guard. She had been fine in Doha, showing vitality from every angle, and even emphasized that after three consecutive matches going to three sets, her elbow felt no pain and her body showed no discomfort. So how could she suddenly fall ill right before the match?

After Zheng Qinwen withdrew, many expected that she or her team would promptly disclose the exact cause of her illness, perhaps just a common cold as some netizens speculated. However, her team chose to avoid giving details, leaving many puzzled.

According to the latest revealed information, the team only provided two points about Zheng Qinwen's withdrawal: first, there was no elbow discomfort, ruling out injury; second, she experienced sudden physical discomfort, and doctors recommended withdrawal.

It is this second point that confused everyone. Many believe that if it were just a typical cold, the player could still push through and compete, as playing while sick is quite common. Even if she truly couldn't continue, there would be no harm in sharing that information to reassure fans and prevent unnecessary speculation. There was no need to turn it into a mystery.

Moreover, people are puzzled about one thing: if Zheng Qinwen was merely unwell, what kind of illness would lead doctors to warn that continuing to play might cause a tendon rupture?

Perhaps Zheng Qinwen's condition this time was indeed serious; otherwise, she wouldn't have withdrawn from such an important Dubai event, missing a valuable chance to earn points. Especially with Sabalenka and Swiatek also withdrawing, reducing the competition's intensity, if Zheng's issue were minor, she certainly wouldn't have stepped aside, forfeiting this golden opportunity.

Some bluntly say that although Zheng Qinwen and her team refuse to disclose the specific health issue, looking at it from another perspective might make it easier to understand.

After last year's surgery, Zheng and her team have become extremely cautious. At the slightest sign of trouble, they stop playing to protect her health first. "Preserving the green hills means no fear of firewood shortage." The painful lesson from last year's US Open, where she withdrew mid-match against Noskova and missed several important tournaments afterward, has made them wary of taking risks. Any problems now could have bigger consequences, especially as Zheng's endorsements grow. Without enough exposure, sponsors might lose patience, indirectly pressuring Zheng and her agent.

Zheng Qinwen's withdrawal has expanded the already large number of pullouts in Dubai. While it won't affect the smooth running of this WTA 1000 event, the surge of withdrawals has completely unsettled Dubai's tournament director, Talak.

Talak expressed strong anger over the current wave of player withdrawals in Dubai, particularly singling out Sabalenka and Swiatek, intending to punish them harshly.

From the director's viewpoint, others withdrew due to genuine physical reasons, but Sabalenka and Swiatek's excuses were too flimsy. "No injury, yet they withdrew for no reason, which deeply disappointed me."

Talak's frustration with Sabalenka and Swiatek stems from their lack of sincerity toward the competition. After their withdrawals, the tournament's player field dimmed significantly, causing damage to the Dubai event.

Talak even threatened severe penalties against Sabalenka and Swiatek, including fines and point deductions, because "only then can I feel better."

After news broke about Dubai's director planning to use Sabalenka and Swiatek as examples for punishment, public reaction was interesting. Many sympathized with the Belarusian and Polish players but remarked that fame isn't always a blessing. While it brings admiration, it also restricts freedom in some matters. Otherwise, they wouldn't face such ruthless criticism from the Dubai director with no recourse.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River's Starry Sky)