Is Dubai cursed this year? A record 24 withdrawals force urgent schedule reform!

On February 18 local time, the WTA1000 Dubai women's singles quarterfinal lineup was set. Despite three rounds completed, the "withdrawal wave" engulfing this tournament continues. Top seed Leylah Fernandez retired due to health issues when the score was 7-5, 4-6, 0-1 against lucky loser Ruddich.

Leylah Fernandez

"(I) feel sick, I ate something, but woke up feeling dizzy and didn’t sleep well, so I planned to withdraw," Fernandez told her physiotherapist. This was her first mid-match retirement since the 2024 Berlin tournament. The new Australian Open champion lost in last week's Doha quarterfinals to Mmboko and exited early in Dubai, missing the chance to surpass Swiatek and become world No. 2 here.

Fernandez admitted before the tournament that she was not in peak condition: "We want to continue competing in Dubai, but I know I’m not at my best because I caught a cold and was bedridden for two or three days without training. When you want to play at home (Fernandez lives in Dubai), missing matches is a pity. I believe regardless of results, playing, training, and trying to improve are beneficial."

Last week’s Doha finalists Muhova and Mmboko also withdrew

As a high-level WTA1000 event, this Dubai tournament has been swept by an unprecedented "wave of withdrawals." Before the start, 16 players including world top two Sabalenka and Swiatek, Doha finalists Muhova and Mmboko, as well as Zheng Qinwen, Naomi Osaka, Keys, Sakkari, Vondrousova, Kudermetova, Riske, Ka. Pliskova, Kostyuk, Kessler, Bouzas, and Kotsareto withdrew. After the tournament began, Krajicek, Kasatkina, and Burel withdrew before their matches, while Valentova, Baptiste, Badosa, Sade, and Fernandez retired mid-match due to various physical reasons.

A total of 24 withdrawals (before and during the event) at this Dubai tournament is unprecedented. American star Pegula’s pre-tournament interview may explain why: "We went to Australia later this year (the Australian season was delayed by a week), which is great, but losing a week after the Australian Open does affect things. For players who performed well in Australia, I think they’d want more time to rest and adjust. After the Australian Open, there’s only one week—rest a few days, recover, train, then prepare for two consecutive WTA1000 events (Doha, Dubai). I know the schedule is brutal, it’s not easy."

Pegula profile image

All signs point to the urgent need for structural reforms in the tour schedule. On February 18 local time, the WTA announced the establishment of a Tour Structure Committee, a task force led by Pegula responsible for reforming the professional tennis system. WTA Chair Valérie Kamillo stated the committee aims to implement "meaningful improvements" to the tour calendar and player participation requirements starting in 2027. Kamillo emphasized that all players share a "clear consensus" that the current schedule imposes enormous physical, professional, and personal pressures that have become unsustainable.

Despite this, five top-10 players reached the quarterfinals in Dubai. In other women’s singles third-round matches, the popular 20-year-old Philippine rising star Ella withstood veteran Kostya’s fierce challenge, winning 7-5, 6-4 to reach her first Dubai quarterfinal. She will face third seed Gauff in the quarters. This will be their first professional meeting, pitting the in-form Ella against the slightly off-form world No. 4 Gauff, promising an exciting matchup.

Ella

Gauff had disappointing results at the Australian Open and Doha and has yet to regain strong form. However, she saved three match points to defeat Mertens 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-3 in the third round, advancing to the quarters. This 2-hour 18-minute victory marked Gauff’s first time saving match points and winning at a tour-level tournament since 2021, improving her head-to-head against the Belgian to 5-0. She lost 5 fewer points overall (96 to 101).

Defending champion Andreyeva and second seed Anisimova both reached the quarterfinals. Anisimova defeated wildcard Zeng Limi 6-1, 6-3, while Andreyeva beat Cristian 7-5, 6-3. Both enjoyed first-round byes and advanced automatically in the second round due to Kasatkina and Krajicek’s injuries. Last week in Doha, both exited early—Anisimova retired sick in the second round against Ka. Pliskova, and Andreyeva lost a match point lead in the third round to Mmboko.

Fourth seed Pegula beat compatriot Jovic 6-4, 6-2 for their first-ever win against her. Pegula will face 12th seed Tauson in the quarters, who defeated Rinnet 6-4, 6-2. In a former champion showdown, seventh seed Svitolina defeated ninth seed Bencic 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, extending her winning streak against Bencic to four matches and improving their overall record to 4-2. Svitolina will face lucky loser Ruddich in the quarterfinals.

WTA Dubai quarterfinal matchups

Svitolina [7] vs Ruddich [L]

Gauff [3] vs Ella

Pegula [4] vs Tauson [12]

Anisimova [2] vs Andreyeva [5]

(Text and editing by Wang Fei, images by Visual China)