“The comments were unnecessary”: Coco Gauff supports Sabalenka after Dubai tournament director dispute

Coco Gauff has offered clear support to Aryna Sabalenka following the World No. 1’s criticism of tournament organisers, shifting the focus of the debate toward player workload and calendar pressure on the WTA Tour. Speaking ahead of the Miami Open, Gauff said she “completely understand[s] why she would feel like that,” reinforcing Sabalenka’s position after a week of controversy.

Sabalenka’s comments were directed at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships tournament director Salah Tahlak, who had questioned player withdrawals and suggested stricter penalties, including potential ranking points deductions.

The Belarusian responded forcefully, describing the remarks as inappropriate and damaging to the relationship between players and organisers.

The issue emerged after Sabalenka withdrew from both Doha and Dubai earlier this season following her run to the Australian Open final, where she lost to Elena Rybakina. She returned to competition at Indian Wells, where she claimed the title, positioning herself for a potential Sunshine Double as she arrives in Miami.

Gauff was careful to contextualise Sabalenka’s remarks, emphasising that they should not be interpreted as a direct criticism of a single tournament. Instead, she pointed to the accumulated demands placed on top players who repeatedly compete at the same events across the calendar. “I just feel Iga and Aryna have played that tournament so many times, and it wasn’t anything personal to it.”

Her comments underline a key distinction in the discussion: the tension lies within the structure of the tour rather than individual relationships. Gauff, currently among the top-ranked players on the WTA Tour as world No. 4, has experienced similar scheduling pressures, particularly during the condensed swing between major tournaments.

She also acknowledged the difficulty players face in balancing commitments, noting that participation decisions are rarely straightforward given ranking implications and expectations from tournaments and sponsors. “It’s tough. We’re trying our best to play the calendar.”

Sabalenka’s original comments were direct in their criticism of tournament leadership. She argued that organisers prioritise commercial interests over player welfare, particularly when it comes to scheduling and recovery periods within the season.

“I think it’s ridiculous. I don’t think he showed himself in the best way possible. For me, it’s actually so sad to see that the tournament directors and the tournaments are not protecting us as players,” the 4-time Grand Slam champion said. “They just care about their ticket sales, about their tournament and that’s it. His comment was ridiculous.”

She went further by suggesting that the controversy could influence her future participation in Dubai, indicating a potential long-term impact on her relationship with the event. “I’m not sure if I ever want to go there after his comment. For me, it’s too much.”

Sabalenka also pointed to the broader issue of player workload, describing the current calendar as “completely crazy” and linking it to the number of injuries seen on tour. Her remarks align with concerns raised by other players in recent seasons about the sustainability of the schedule.

Gauff echoed part of that sentiment by criticising the tone of the comments directed at Sabalenka, stating that they were “unnecessary” and reinforcing the legitimacy of her reaction. “I completely understand why she would feel like that because the comments were unnecessary.”

Sabalenka and Gauff are still awaiting their Miami Open debuts after receiving first-round byes as the No. 1 and No. 4 seeds, respectively. The World No. 1 will face the winner between Ann Li and qualifier Kimberly Birrell, while Gauff will take on the winner of the match between lucky loser Darja Semenistaja and Elisabetta Cocciaretto.