Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has said she is not sure if she will return to the Dubai Championships after being criticized by tournament director Salah Tahlak for withdrawing late last month.
While speaking to reporters on Tuesday ahead of the Miami Open, World. No. 1 Sabalenka was asked about Tahlak’s previous comments – when he said that Sabalenka and tennis star Iga Swiatek should be given points for withdrawing from the Dubai Championships, which he called “incredibly unfortunate.”
“I’m not sure if I ever wanted to go back there after his comments. For me it’s too much,” said Sabalenka, adding that Tahlak’s opinion on the matter was “ridiculous” and he did not represent himself “in the best way.”
“To me it’s very funny – not ‘funny,’ actually very sad – to see that the tournament director and the tournaments are not protecting us, as players,” he continued. “They only care about their sales, their competition, and that’s it.”
Meanwhile, Sabalenka cited health reasons, saying, “I don’t feel 100 percent,” for withdrawing two days before Tahlak’s WTA 1000 Dubai event, which she has participated in for the past nine seasons.
Swiatek, ranked No. 2 in the world, has resigned due to the change of schedule.
“It was incredibly unfortunate last night to get the news of Aryna and Iga’s cancellation,” Tahlak told The National in mid-February. “And the reasons for withdrawing were strange.
“Iga said he wasn’t mentally ready to compete, and Sabalenka said he had a few injuries. I think players should be severely punished (for withdrawing). Not just fines – they should be given points by ranking.”
WTA 1000 events have a ranking penalty.
Sabalenka – a four-time Grand Slam winner – has opened up about the WTA’s “crazy” schedule, saying in January she planned to skip some WTA events.
WTA players are required to play in four Grand Slams, six WTA 500 events, and 10 WTA 1000 events under association rules.
Having just won her first Indian Wells tournament on Sunday, Sabalenka will defend her title at the Miami Open, starting Wednesday.
Sabalenka will play Ann Li of the US or Kimberly Birrell of Australia in her opening match.
Sabalenka and Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis announced their marriage before Indian Wells.
