The world’s top two players will not participate in the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships.
Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek both decided to skip the WTA 1000 event, catching a few people off guard with the timing.
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“I am very sorry to have to withdraw from Dubai,” Sabalenka said. “Unfortunately, I don’t feel 100%. »
Swiatek explained her decision, saying: “I’m sorry to announce that I will not be playing in Dubai this year due to a schedule change.”
With the top two seeds out of the way, it allows someone else to take advantage and win a major title.
The draw now favors Elena Rybakina, who is aiming for her very first title in Dubai…
Elena Rybakina earns top seed status at WTA 1000 event for first time
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Rybakina, who was initially projected as the third seed, moved up to first place following the withdrawals of Sabalenka and Swiatek.
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She is already a two-time Grand Slam champion, but this will be the first time she leads the field as the number one seed at a WTA 1000 event.
It remains to be seen whether she can handle the added pressure of being the top seed.
There are still many talents in the draw. Even without Swiatek and Sabalenka, Rybakina will have her hands full with several big names joining her in Dubai.
Six of those listed have more recent WTA 1000 titles than Rybakina, the last of which came at the 2023 Italian Open.
Time will tell if she can add another in Dubai, which would be her first since that victory in Rome.
How Elena Rybakina performed at the Dubai Tennis Championships
Rybakina’s 8-2 record in Dubai gives her an 80% win rate at the event, matching her success at the Qatar Open.
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The Kazakh reached the semi-finals but has yet to reach the final. Her best run came last year when she made it to the final four.
In 2025, Rybakina reached the semifinals after wins over Moyuka Uchijima, Paula Badosa and Sofia Kenin before falling to Mirra Andreeva.
But since then, she has become a different player. By mid-2025, it returned to peak form and has remained consistent since then.
She won titles in Ningbo (October), the WTA Finals (November) and added another major by winning the Australian Open in January.
A strong argument could be made that Rybakina was the best player in women’s tennis during this period.
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With Swiatek and Sabalenka missing from this year’s tournament, it would not be surprising if Rybakina wins another trophy later this month when play begins on February 16.
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