Top Seeds Crash Out in Dubai as Swiatek Calls for Schedule Change

Dubai, UAE – Star players of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour faced unexpected early exits at the Masters 1000 events in Doha and Dubai, with Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff all falling short of expectations. Iga Swiatek, the world No. 2, expressed disappointment in her performance after losing in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

During her post-match comments, a visibly frustrated Swiatek recounted her match against 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who defeated her 6-3, 6-3. “I’m not happy with the results. I feel like I underperformed,” Swiatek stated, highlighting the demanding WTA calendar as a contributing factor to her struggles.

Echoing similar sentiments, Sabalenka, who had also faced early elimination in Dubai, remarked on the rigorous schedule players must navigate, stating, “For the last couple of years, I’m not doing well in the Middle East. I believe we need to change something in the preparation.” The toll of competing directly after the Australian Open has left many players in precarious positions.

Swiatek elaborated on her challenges, saying, “The preparation was definitely different this year. I didn’t have the luxury of time to practice thoroughly before these tournaments, which is vital.” Her early exit shattered her previous dominance at the Qatar Open, where she had been a three-time defending champion.

Highlighting the growing competitiveness in women’s tennis, Swiatek emphasized the need for reforms, noting, “Now, anybody can win these tournaments. That wasn’t the case a couple of years ago.” The increasing talent pool among lower-ranked players further complicates the landscape for top contenders seeking consistency.

Swiatek’s tournament run in Dubai came shortly after her semifinal appearance at the 2025 Australian Open, which left her with little preparation time for the Middle East swing. She reflected on this challenge, acknowledging, “I had the same kind of mindset as every year, but the preparation for sure was different.”

Fans of the sport can anticipate further discussions surrounding the evolution of the WTA schedule, especially as players like Swiatek and Sabalenka call for a reassessment of how the tour is structured. With all top five seeds eliminated from Dubai, the tournament has seen considerable upsets, raising questions about the impact of scheduling on players’ performances.