Aryna Sabalenka is far from happy with Dubai Tennis Championships tournament director Salah Tahlak following his criticism after she withdrew from the competition in February.
Tahlak called for Sabalenka to be sanctioned after she withdrew from Dubai due to injury just days before the event.
Sabalenka joined Iga Swiatek by dropping out of the Masters event, and Tahlak’s criticism was called ‘unnecessary’ by the world number one.
Coco Gauff, who lost in the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, has shared her opinion on the spat.
Coco Gauff defends Aryna Sabalenka in dispute with Dubai Tennis Championships
Sabalenka has threatened not to play in Dubai again and Gauff can understand the world number one’s frustrations.
Speaking ahead of the Miami Open, Gauff said: “I just feel Iga and Aryna have played that tournament so many times, and it wasn’t anything personal to it.
“It’s tough. We’re trying our best to play the calendar. I completely understand why she [Sabalenka] would feel like that because the comments were unnecessary.”
Where will Coco Gauff be ranked at the end of 2026?
Gauff was the third seed, behind Elena Rybakina and Amanda Anisimova, due to Sabalenka and Swiatek’s withdrawals.
She reached the semi-final of the competition, before losing to Elina Svitolina in a three set battle to exit the event.
Gauff, Swiatek, and Sabalenka are all set to play the Miami Open, with the world number one looking to defend her title from 2025.
Coco Gauff’s strange record at the Miami Open
Gauff has called the Miami Open a ‘bucket list tournament’, but she’s yet to play her best tennis at the Masters events.
The American has never reached past the fourth round, having exited at that stage of the tournament in three out of her six appearances.
How long will it take for Coco Gauff to complete the career Grand Slam?
Gauff only holds a 57% win-rate in Miami, which is her second worst record at a Masters event, behind the Qatar Open.
The star holds an 8–6 record in her six appearances, so she will be hoping to turn around her bizarre form at one of her home tournaments.
Gauff is yet to find out her second round opponent, with the winner of Darja Semeņistaja and Elisabetta Cocciaretto set to take on the American.
