The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships women’s tournament has been hit once again by a slew of withdrawals with No6 seed Johanna Konta the latest to pull-out of the event.
Konta was set to make her Middle East debut this month but she pulled out of both Doha, citing a change in schedule, and Dubai with a foot injury. Her spot in the draw was taken by Barbora Strycova, the No9 seed.
“I’m really sorry to have to withdraw from Dubai,” Konta said in a statement. “I came here with every intention to play and I’m really sad I didn’t get to make my debut here, but health has to come first and it’s a long season. I’m really looking forward to coming back next year and for many years to come. It’s a wonderful venue and I’ve enjoyed my short amount of time here in Dubai.”
Defending champion Sara Errani, three-time runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova and Canadian fan favourite Eugenie Bouchard are also amongst a growing list of absentees.
Errani suffered a right adductor injury during Fed Cup last weekend and her withdrawal brings back nightmarish flashbacks for the organisers, who were tortured by a lengthy list of last-minute pullouts last year.
.@AngeliqueKerber hitting on centre court @DDFTennis ... She has only won 1 match in Dubai throughout her career #wta pic.twitter.com/UTYLe38NEQ
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 18, 2017
The fact that all eight seeds crashed out before the quarter-finals also didn’t help.
It drove tournament director Salah Tahlak of Dubai Duty Free to publicly slam the players of the WTA, saying they “lacked commitment”.
“Unfortunately, I’ve suffered a right adductor injury during my last match against Slovakia in Fed Cup.” Errani said in a statement.
“Dubai’s tournament has been crucial to my season since the beginning, as I tried to schedule every move in order to be 100 per cent ready to defend my title as champion. Accordingly to what doctors suggested, I will take the right time to recover before getting back on court, which I hope will be as soon as possible. Dubai, I’ll see you next year.”
Kuznetsova, a regular in Dubai and a losing finalist in 2004, 2008 and 2011, is missing the tournament for just a second time since she made her debut here in 2003.
The Russian two-time grand slam champion is struggling with an abdominal issue that also forced her to miss the Qatar Total Open in Doha this week.
Last nights @si_swimsuit launch party 👸🏼 pic.twitter.com/qus0cejoAN
— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) February 17, 2017
Bouchard is also reportedly suffering from an abductor problem. She also appeared in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit launch party in New York City on Thursday.
2014 Dubai runner-up Alize Cornet, of France, is also not coming as she sustained a tear in her pectoral muscle.
List of no-shows
Simona Halep – Left knee
Johanna Konta – Foot
Svetlana Kuznetsova – Abdominal
Carla Suarez Navarro – Right shoulder
Timea Bacsinszky – Left thigh
Alize Cornet – Pectoral tear
Karin Knapp – Right knee
Eugenie Bouchard – Abdominal
Sara Errani – Right adductor
Monica Niculescu – Right knee