Coco Gauff stands with Aryna Sabalenka as world number one threatens Dubai boycott over "ridiculous" remarks

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka threatens to boycott Dubai after "ridiculous" comments from the tournament director. Coco Gauff backs her rival's stance.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 11:19 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

A Fractured Relationship with the Dubai Circuit

The professional relationship between world number one Aryna Sabalenka and the Dubai Tennis Championships has reached a breaking point. During a pre-tournament press conference at the Miami Open, Sabalenka expressed deep disappointment over comments made by Dubai tournament director Salah Tahlak, who had previously questioned the legitimacy of her injury-related withdrawal from the February WTA 1000 event. Sabalenka labeled the director’s complaints as "ridiculous" and accused tournament organizers of prioritizing ticket sales over player health. The Belarusian star hinted that the lack of institutional protection might lead her to strike the Dubai event from her future calendar entirely.

Controversial Calls for Harsher Penalties

The tension stems from a series of high-profile withdrawals in Dubai earlier this year, including those of Sabalenka and then-world number two Iga Swiatek. In response, Salah Tahlak suggested to the media that current WTA penalties are insufficient. He advocated for "harsher" punishments, proposing that players who withdraw on short notice should face ranking point deductions in addition to monetary fines. Tahlak even went as far as to cite conversations with medical staff to suggest that Sabalenka’s injuries were not severe enough to warrant a total withdrawal, a move that Sabalenka characterized as a personal and professional betrayal.

Coco Gauff Offers Solidarity

World number four Coco Gauff has now added her voice to the controversy, backing her rival’s frustration. Speaking from Miami, Gauff stated that she "completely understands" why Sabalenka would feel alienated by the unnecessary comments from the Dubai leadership. Gauff emphasized that elite players are doing their best to navigate a grueling global calendar and that the decisions made by Sabalenka and Swiatek were not personal slights against the tournament. By standing with Sabalenka, Gauff highlights a growing sentiment among top-tier players that tournament organizers must show greater empathy toward the physical toll of the professional tour.