Aryna Sabalenka Fires Back at Dubai Open Director After Withdrawal Drama as Bold Words Raise Questions Over Player Treatment

Aryna Sabalenka has created a fresh talking point just before the Miami Open, and this time it is not about her game. The world No. 1 has openly called out Dubai Tennis Championships director Salah Tahlak after his comments on her withdrawal did not sit well with her. What started as a simple injury update has now turned into a bigger debate about how players are treated.

Sabalenka had pulled out of the 2026 Dubai tournament just a day before it began, citing a minor hip injury. But the reaction from the tournament director added fuel to the situation. Now, with strong words coming from Sabalenka’s side, the issue has gone beyond just one event and raised questions about player respect in tennis.

Aryna Sabalenka calls Dubai Open Director Salah Tahlak comments shameful after withdrawal controversy

The tension began when Salah Tahlak publicly questioned player withdrawals. He suggested that players who pull out should face stricter action, including fines and even loss of ranking points. He also did not fully agree with Sabalenka’s reason for stepping away from the tournament. Sabalenka did not stay quiet. She responded strongly and made her feelings very clear.

“His comments were ridiculous,” Sabalenka said. “I don’t think he portrayed himself in the best light possible. To me, it’s quite sad to see that tournament directors and tournaments in general do not protect us as players. They care only about their numbers, their sales, focus on their tournament, and that’s it. What he said was shameful. After that comment, I don’t know if I want to go back there. For me, he crossed the line.”

Those words quickly caught attention across the tennis world. The situation now feels bigger than just one disagreement. It has opened up a wider conversation about how much pressure players face when dealing with injuries.

Despite all this noise, Sabalenka’s form on the court has been strong. She recently won the Indian Wells title, beating Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina in a tough three-set match. The score was 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6), and it showed her ability to fight back under pressure.

After that win, Sabalenka spoke about her mindset during the match. “I think the whole idea going into this match was to be mentally strong, to stay strong no matter what, to show with the body language that I’m here, I’m fighting,” she said. “I’m happy that it really worked.”

Now, her focus shifts to the Miami Open, where she will enter as the defending champion. She shared her thoughts on the challenge ahead. “I’m defending champion there, so I have to bring my best tennis there,” Sabalenka said.

“But with these vibes that I’m taking from here, I think I’ll be able to be there and to fight and to do my very best to defend that beautiful trophy.” Sabalenka is set to begin her Miami Open campaign in the Round of 64 on Tuesday, carrying both momentum and a strong message.





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