Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have both confirmed they will not be taking part in the upcoming Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. 

Sabalenka and Swiatek had hinted that they would be willing to skip WTA 1000 tournaments in 2026 following criticism over the increased schedule of events. 

After losing to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final, Sabalenka decided to give herself extra rest and skipped the opening WTA 1000 tournament of the year in Doha. 

Unlike the Belarusian, Swiatek decided to play at the Qatar Open but she was defeated by the unseeded Maria Sakkari at the quarter-final stage of the competition. 

In a statement, the six-time grand slam champion cited "a change of schedule" for her withdrawal and confirmed that she was planning to resume action in March at Indian Wells. 

"I am sorry to announce that I will not be playing Dubai this year due to a change of schedule," Swiatek said. 

"I hope I will come back next year to experience the great tournament. See you guys in Indian Wells."

 

 

 

 

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Sabalenka and Swiatek join Madison Keys in withdrawing from the event, with the American also suffering with fatigue from recent weeks.

Naomi Osaka has also pulled out with an abdominal injury, meaning Rybakina will be the top seed in Dubai, with Amanda Anisimova the second-highest ranked player. 

Defending champion Mirra Andreeva is seeded fifth. She defeated Clara Tauson in last year's final to become the youngest player to reach the WTA top 10 since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007.

Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini, Elina Svitolina and Ekaterina Alexandrova make up the top eight.