#360view: Dubai withdrawals a worrying trend in the Gulf

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Use #360view to have your say on today's topic.

    It is a sad reality but when Serena Williams’ name shows up on the entry list for Dubai, more than likely she will not show up.

    The American world No1 has pulled out of the event for the third time in four years, citing illness and heaping misery on tournament organisers who have been dealing with a slew of late withdrawals that have decimated the draw.

    It is understandable that many tournaments this season will suffer from the same problem in an Olympic year where many players will try to optimise their calendar as much as possible.

    Players are forced to commit to certain tournaments many months in advance and quite often something comes up closer to the date of the event that forces them to change their plans.

    Someone like Maria Sharapova has been quite forthcoming about how much she was planning on playing, admitting in Melbourne that she doesn’t see herself competing before Indian Wells, which meant that her withdrawal from Doha next week did not come as a surprise.

    Williams, however, has given no tangible signs of pulling out of Dubai although those following her Snapchats from Jamaica a few days ago and those who watched her HSN appearance on Friday night may have guessed she may not be making the trip to the Middle East.

    Alas, she has fallen sick and is not coming and once again the tournament has pushed ticket sales with Williams as top billing, and once again fans will not see her play here.

    A disappointing byproduct of all the late withdrawals this year is that the fourth wildcard of the tournament went unused.

    The four wildcards were initially given to Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Karolina Pliskova and Julia Goerges.

    After so many players pulled out, Goerges ended up making the main draw cut via her ranking but since qualifying had already started by the time the draw was being made, that fourth invite has vanished into thin air.

    It’s a shame considering it could have gone to one of the two Arab players who were in qualifying action on Saturday – Fatma Al Nabhani of Oman or Ons Jabeur of Tunisia.

    Another possible reason why many players opted out of Dubai this year – besides the illnesses, injuries and scheduling purposes – is the fact that this season, Doha is the Premier 5 event and offering more money and more points, while Dubai is just a Premier tournament.

    If a player wants to commit to just one of them, they will always go for the one that offers the bigger rewards.

    The two Gulf tournaments alternate that status each year and frankly, the event with the lower status ends up suffering. It makes you wonder whether this set-up is the right way to go.

    Recommended