sports
Sabalenka may avoid championships in Dubai after ‘ridiculous’ comment
Director says stronger penalties needed for withdrawals
TL;DR
- Aryna Sabalenka is considering not competing at the Dubai Tennis Championships due to harsh criticism from the tournament director regarding her withdrawal.
- Sabalenka stated that the tournament director's comments were 'ridiculous' and that players are not adequately protected by tournaments.
- The tournament director, Salah Tahlak, advocated for stricter penalties for player withdrawals, such as docking ranking points.
- Sabalenka's withdrawal from February events was to prioritize her physical and mental health amidst a demanding tennis schedule.
- Jack Draper is on a comeback path after a seven-month layoff due to injury, focusing on long-term career goals.
- Draper achieved a significant win against Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells before falling out of the top 20.
- Cameron Norrie has surpassed Draper in the British rankings after his own strong performance at Indian Wells.