The number of walkovers and retirements from this year’s Dubai Tennis championships has risen to 14, with top seed Elena Rybakina becoming the latest casualty.
Rybakina, who won her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last month, won the opening set of her match against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic before retiring when down 7-5, 4-6, 0-1. The Kazakh called for a medical timeout before making her decision to retire due to illness. When speaking to their physio, the match broadcasters managed to pick up what she was saying.
“[I have] Nausea, I ate, but in the morning I had a heavy head, I didn’t sleep well,” Rybakina explained.
“So I’m going to stop.”
It is the first time Rybakina has retired from a match since the 2024 Berlin Open, which was also due to illness. As a result of her Dubai exit, Coco Gauff could significantly close in on her world No.3 position if she goes deep in the draw. As it currently stands, Rybakina has a lead of just over 700 points prior to Gauff playing her third round match.
Rybakina’s retirement comes a day after there were four other retirements or walkovers in the draw. Among those was Paula Badosa, who has hit back at those criticising her decision.
As for Ruzic, her fairytale run in Dubai continues. The Croat was initially eliminated from the tournament in qualifying but received a lucky loser spot in the main draw. Then, in the first round, she upset Emma Raducanu before beating Anastasia Zakharova and now Rybakina. It is the first time in Ruzic’s career that she has reached the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event.
“I hope Elena gets well soon,” Ruzic said during her on-court interview.
“Not the way I wanted to win this match today. My first time as a lucky loser, you got to take your second chance.
“I’m going to the quarters and I’m happy with how I played today.”
Ruzic will play either Elina Svitolina or Belinda Bencic next.
List of Dubai withdrawals and retirements
Withdrawals
A. Sabalenka Right hip injury
E. Cocciaretto [Q] Left thigh injury
I. Swiatek Change of schedule
K. Muchova Change of schedule
M. Sakkari Illness
Q. Zheng Illness
V. Mboko Right elbow injury
S. Bejlek [WC] Abdominal injury
D. Kasatkina Right hip injury
B. Krejcikova Left thigh injury
Retirements
H. Baptiste Abdominal injury
P. Badosa Right thigh injury
E. Seidel Illness
E. Rybakina GI Illness
