After taking a long break following her finals run at the Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka picked up right where she left off, winning the Indian Wells title and exacting revenge on Elena Rybakina in the final.
In doing so, the Belarusian improved to 17–1 in 2026, with title runs in Brisbane and Indian Wells sandwiched between a finals appearance at the Australian Open to start her season.
Dubai Absence Sparks Controversy
Amid this dominant run, Sabalenka missed the entire Middle East swing, withdrawing from both the Qatar Open and the Dubai Open due to fatigue. While this was somewhat understandable, it still raised eyebrows, particularly her decision to skip Dubai, where she currently resides.
The situation drew criticism from the Dubai Open tournament director, who called for ranking penalties for players missing big events after both Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek withdrew.
“It was an unfortunate surprise last night to get news of the withdrawal of Aryna and Iga. And the reasons for withdrawal were a bit strange. Iga said she wasn’t mentally ready to compete, while Sabalenka said she has some minor injuries. I don’t know. I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players, not just fines; they should be docked ranking points.”
Aryna Sabalenka Responds Strongly
Sabalenka has now responded–and she did not hold back. Speaking in her Miami Open pre-tournament press conference, the World No. 1 said:
“I’m not sure if I ever want to go [back] there, after his comment.”
This is not the first time Sabalenka has voiced such concerns. Earlier this year, she admitted that maintaining a schedule similar to Serena Williams is no longer feasible due to the demanding nature of the modern tennis calendar.
At this stage of her career, Sabalenka’s focus is on maximizing her prime and prioritizing her health. As a result, she has opted to skip more events than some of her peers in recent years to stay fresh for the four Slams. If her latest comments are anything to go by, the Dubai Open could become another tournament she permanently avoids.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
