Four players have withdrawn from the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Championships, adding to a growing list of fitness concerns that have plagued the tournament. Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva advanced to the next round after Daria Kasatkina pulled out prior to their scheduled match on February 17th, according to tournament officials.
The withdrawals continued with ninth seed Belinda Bencic also receiving a walkover as Sara Bejlek was forced to withdraw before her match. Further compounding the issue, Paula Badosa retired after losing the first set 6-4 to sixth seed Elina Svitolina, and Ella Seidel withdrew after losing the first set 6-0 to Jaqueline Cristian.
These latest withdrawals follow nine dropouts in the first round, requiring seven lucky losers from qualifying to fill the main draw. The spate of retirements and withdrawals has prompted the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to announce the formation of a new “Tour Architecture Council” aimed at addressing concerns about the demanding schedule and its impact on player wellbeing.
WTA chair Valerie Camillo stated that the council was established because “the current calendar does not feel sustainable for players given the physical, professional and personal pressures of competing at the highest level.” The council will be tasked with “developing meaningful improvements to the calendar, commitments and other core elements of the Tour framework,” with potential changes slated to be implemented as early as the 2027 season.
The council will be chaired by American world number five Jessica Pegula, and will include former world number one Victoria Azarenka, as well as tournament directors and WTA Tour chiefs. Pegula emphasized the importance of the council’s work, stating, “This is a chance to focus on specific parts of the Tour structure and see what can be addressed in the short-term, while continuing the conversation on longer-term improvements in a dedicated, focused way.” She added, “The WTA has the opportunity and standing to bring a group like this together and I’m grateful they’re using that power to advance real change for 2027.”
The WTA has not yet announced specific areas of focus for the council beyond calendar adjustments, leaving the precise scope of potential changes undefined.
