Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek pull out of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships just days before tournament begins

The WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is set to start on February 16, closely following the Qatar Open. It is set to host some of the best tennis players in the world as they target the prestigious prize. However, the tournament has been hit with a major blow with both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek pulling out of the event.

The world number one and two both have had mixed starts to the year. Sabalenka started as she means to go on, winning the Brisbane International title before reaching the final of the Australian Open, painfully losing out against Elena Rybakina in three sets.

While Dubai has not been happy hunting ground for the Belarusian in the past, it is still a blow that she is missing out on the event. “I'm really sorry I have to withdraw from Dubai," the number one wrote in a statement. "I have such a special connection with the tournament, the fans and the city. Unfortunately, I am not feeling 100 %. But I hope to be back next year and wish the tournament a great event.”

The same goes for Swiatek. The six-time Grand Slam champion reached the quarter-final in the Australian Open before coming up a cropper against Maria Sakakri in a surprising defeat in the last-eight of the Qatar Open, an event she has won three times. It was a bitter blow and a representation that she is not at her very best game.

This may have come up for why she will not be competing in the last event of the Middle East swing, with the United States her next destination. “I am sorry to announce that I will not be playing Dubai this year due to a change of schedule. I hope I will come back next year to experience the great tournament. See you guys in Indian Wells.”

The Sunshine swing, involving the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open, will both be played out with many talents taking to the stage in the third and fourth WTA 1000 events of the year. The second, set to commence shortly in Dubai, will still be competed by a high quality field, despite the top two pulling out. Mirra Andreeva will attempt to defend her title with Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula among the talents who will be relishing the fact that their rivals have pulled out.