Top seeds Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka Withdraw from Dubai; Magda Linette Remains Poland’s Hope in Main Draw
The WTA 1000 event in Dubai has been hit by two high-profile withdrawals: world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Świątek will not take part, leaving organizers to explain the absence of the circuit’s two brightest faces. The unexpected pair of pullouts reshuffles seeding, hands Jelena Rybakina the top billing and places added pressure on remaining contenders — including Magda Linette, the only Polish player assured a spot in the main draw.
Instant fallout: seedings, ranking permutations and sponsor headaches
The simultaneous exits of the sport’s current leader and her nearest rival are an uncomfortable surprise for tournament organizers and sponsors, who had expected marquee names to anchor the week. With both Sabalenka and Świątek out, Jelena Rybakina inherits the No. 1 seed in Dubai — a first at this event for the Kazakh player — and the draw shifts accordingly.
The withdrawals also carry ranking implications. Rybakina sits within striking distance of climbing to world No. 2 if she makes a deep run; she needs to reach the final in Dubai to overtake Świątek in the next ranking update. The math is tight: Rybakina trails by a few hundred points after last year’s results, and a final appearance in the Emirates could be enough to flip the standings. For the rest of the field, the altered pecking order opens a pathway to later rounds that would have been tougher had the top two played.
From a broader perspective, the episode highlights mounting friction between player scheduling priorities and tournament demands. Several top players have signaled a willingness to skip events to protect training blocks or recover physically — a choice that delivers short-term rest to athletes but creates long-term headaches for promoters and commercial partners reliant on star power.
Magda Linette’s draw, Polish representation and the path ahead
With the headline names absent, attention turns to those still competing. Magda Linette is the lone Polish player guaranteed in the main draw in Dubai and opens against Lulu Sun. If Linette prevails in that matchup, she would be projected to face Ekaterina Alexandrova, the tournament’s No. 8 seed, in a potential second-round clash. That sequence presents a clear but challenging route that could produce a high-quality win and valuable ranking points for Linette.
Another Polish hopeful, Magdalena Fręch, is contesting the qualifying final against Varvara Gracheva. Even if she falls short, Fręch could still gain entry as a lucky loser depending on withdrawals before the main draw starts. Those permutations keep Poland’s chances alive beyond Linette’s immediate assignment.
For Linette, Dubai represents both opportunity and pressure: the absence of the sport’s two biggest draws widens the competitive landscape, but it also elevates expectations for those who remain. A solid run in the Emirates could prove pivotal as the tour shifts toward the North American hard-court swing.
Looking ahead: a recalibrated calendar and upcoming milestones
Świątek has framed her decision to skip Dubai as part of a broader 2026 strategy aimed at carving out more training time between events. She is expected to return to competition at Indian Wells, which begins on March 4, 2026 (ET). Miami follows as the next WTA 1000 on the calendar, starting March 17, 2026 (ET). Sabalenka’s reasons for withdrawing point to fitness and readiness considerations, underscoring how top players are managing workloads early in the season.
For tournament directors and fans, the immediate challenge is to maintain momentum and deliver compelling tennis despite the absence of two global stars. For players like Linette, the reshuffled draw offers a chance to seize the moment and produce a breakthrough result on a big stage.
