Next week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will be the second WTA 1000 tournament in as many weeks. Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini unexpectedly won the title last year, beating Anna Kalinskaya in a thrilling final. Most of the top women’s players, including Coco Gauff, are on the entry list for the event in Dubai. However, four high-profile players have already withdrawn from the event.
Four Players Withdraw From Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Madison Keys was the highest-ranked player to withdraw from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. She also missed the ongoing Qatar TotalEnergies Open with a leg injury. The Australian Open champion will not be ready in time for next week and probably aims to be fit again for March’s Indian Wells Open.
Barbora Krejcikova was another Grand Slam champion to withdraw from the WTA 1000 tournament. The Czech has not competed yet this season because of a back injury that affected her towards the end of 2024. It is unknown when last year’s Wimbledon champion will likely return to the court, but back issues often take much time to heal fully.
Danielle Collins will also miss the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The 2022 Australian Open runner-up withdrew from the events in Qatar and Dubai with a lingering foot injury. Collins played through the pain at this year’s Australian Open but is now taking time to rest the problem. The 31-year-old will hope to be back for next month’s Miami Open, where she is the defending champion.
Anna Kalinskaya was the most surprising withdrawal. She retired from her Singapore Open semifinal against Ann Li on February 1st with an injury. That did not stop her from competing in Qatar, which makes not playing in Dubai somewhat unexpected. Kalinskaya also missed this year’s Australian Open because of health issues.
Who Replaces Those Players on the Entry List?
Keys’ place on the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships entry list has been taken by Lulu Sun. The New Zealander burst onto the scene last year by reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinal. Her most recent match was a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Liudmila Samsonova in the opening round of the Qatar Open.
Peyton Stearns has been given an opportunity due to Krejcikova’s decision to withdraw. She possesses a dangerous game, memorably having three match points to defeat Aryna Sabalenka at last year’s Indian Wells Open. The 23-year-old lost in the second round of the Qatar Open to Elena Rybakina.
Clara Tauson replaces Danielle Collins at the Dubai Duty Tennis Free Championships. Like Collins, the Dane is one of the biggest hitters on the WTA Tour and can trouble almost all players at her best. She won her maiden WTA Tour title at the ASB Classic in Auckland this season.
Marie Bouzkova is also on the entry list because of Kalinskaya’s withdrawal. However, her participation is uncertain after not playing at the Qatar Open. It remains to be seen if the gritty Czech, who was the runner-up at last year’s Citi DC Open in Washington, features in Dubai.
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