The WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Championships commenced on Sunday, but fans faced disappointment as several prominent players withdrew from the tournament. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek had already pulled out earlier in the week. On Sunday, Zheng Qinwen and Maria Sakkari withdrew due to health issues, and Karolina Muchova opted out due to fatigue after her recent victory in Doha.
Muchova’s withdrawal followed a thrilling victory at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, where she claimed her second career title by defeating 19-year-old Victoria Mboko in the final with a scoreline of 6-4, 7-5. This win marked Muchova’s significant return to form, but she found that her body needed rest before competing in Dubai.
Zheng, the reigning Olympic champion, was scheduled to face American Peyton Stearns but had to withdraw, allowing Stearns to advance after defeating lucky loser Magdalena Frech 6-4, 6-2. Zheng had recently made her comeback in Doha, reaching the Round of 16 but fell to Elena Rybakina in a tight three-set match. Following elbow surgery last July, her plans to compete in the Australian Open were thwarted by a lack of fitness, but she had expressed optimism about her gradual improvement.
Meanwhile, Sakkari, currently ranked 52, had also performed well in Doha, where she reached the semi-finals, including a victory over Swiatek. She targeted a first-round match against 16th seed Iva Jovic, but the young American will now face lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova. Sakkari noted her need for rest and recovery after an intense series of matches.
On a brighter note in Dubai, 20-year-old Sara Bejlek, known for her recent victory in Abu Dhabi, advanced past Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez with a decisive 6-2, 6-2 win. Bejlek showed impressive form, converting 6 of 10 break point opportunities throughout the match.
Alexandra Eala, competing at a career-high ranking of No. 40, similarly moved forward in the competition when her opponent, Hailey Baptiste, retired in the second set. Eala acknowledged the challenges of the tour and hoped for Baptiste’s swift recovery while expressing her excitement to progress in the tournament.
Another notable upset occurred when Canada’s Leylah Fernandez defeated Liudmila Samsonova, the No. 13 seed, after recovering from a set down to win 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. This defeat pushed Samsonova’s record in three-set matches this season to a troubling 0-5.
In other first-round results, Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell triumphed against Germany’s Tatjana Maria, and Linda Noskova, seeded 10th, had to fight hard to overcome Ann Li, edging out with a score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. Notably, Barbora Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam champion, secured a straightforward win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, setting up a clash with second seed Amanda Anisimova in the next round.
As these early matches unfold, all eyes are on Emma Raducanu, the only British player remaining in the singles draw, as she prepares to face Italian qualifier Elisabetta Cocciaretto in round one. The Dubai Duty Free Championships promise exciting moments amidst the ups and downs of player withdrawals and fierce competition from rising stars and established champions alike.
