The second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships was hit by fitness issues again as four players, including fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, advanced because of player withdrawals.
Andreeva went through when opponent Daria Kasatkina pulled out before the tie, while ninth seed Belinda Bencic was also handed a walkover when Sara Bejlek withdrew prior to the match.
Paula Badosa retired after losing the first set 6-4 against sixth seed Elina Svitolina, while Ella Seidel withdrew after dropping the first set 6-0 to Jaqueline Cristian.
The withdrawals follow nine dropouts in the first round, which saw seven lucky losers from qualifying fill the main draw.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced it is launching “the Tour Architecture Council” to oversee improvements to the women’s game.
In a statement, WTA chair Valerie Camillo says the council has been set up because the “current calendar does not feel sustainable for players given the physical, professional and personal pressures of competing at the highest level”.
Chaired by American world number five Jessica Pegula, the council is set to “develop meaningful improvements to the calendar, commitments and other core elements of the Tour framework”.
Potential changes to the Tour “can be implemented as soon as the 2027 season”.
The council is made up of a number of players, including former world number one Victoria Azarenka, as well as tournament directors and WTA Tour chiefs.
“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,” said Pegula.
“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.”