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Tournament director Salah Tahlak described the withdrawals as an “unfortunate surprise” and questioned the explanations provided. Swiatek cited mental readiness issues, while Sabalenka pointed to minor physical concerns. According to Tahlak, tournament medical staff did not believe Sabalenka’s issue was severe enough to require withdrawal.
Frustrated by what he sees as a growing trend, Tahlak called for tougher penalties, arguing that monetary fines are ineffective for top players. He suggested that ranking points should be deducted for late withdrawals from mandatory events, noting that even large fines have historically done little to deter such decisions. He plans to raise the issue formally at an upcoming WTA meeting in Rome, emphasising that tournaments invest heavily in facilities and promotion, only to be undermined when star players withdraw at the last minute.
Under current WTA rules, Masters 1000 events are mandatory, and players must provide valid medical reasons to avoid sanctions. Those who miss without justification receive a “zero-pointer” on their ranking record and may also face fines. Sabalenka’s cited hip issue could exempt her from penalties, while Swiatek’s scheduling-based withdrawal may expose her to sanctions.
In their absence, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff become the top seeds, with rising talents Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala drawing attention. The incident has reignited debate over player scheduling, accountability and the balance of power between athletes and tournaments.
Comments:
Agree that monetary punishments might not work.
Although deduction of points could be based on frequencies, etc.
Not easy to strike a balance.
