February 16, (THEWILL) – Former world number one Naomi Osaka and defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, have withdrawn from next week’s Dubai Tennis Championships, the WTA Tour event announced on Friday.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner, is still finding her form after returning from maternity leave last month. The Japanese player fell in the first round of the Australian Open in January and Abu Dhabi, before losing to Karolina Pliskova in the Qatar Open quarter-finals, on Thursday. This will be her first missed Dubai event in five years.
Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, who defeated world number one Iga Swiatek in last year’s Dubai final, has pulled out with a back injury. The 28-year-old Czech player said the decision was difficult but her injury requires more recovery time. She vowed to return stronger next year to the event where she captured her maiden Dubai crown.
The withdrawals leave the Dubai Championships missing two of its biggest stars. The tournament begins on February 19 and runs through the 25 at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre.
With Osaka and Krejcikova out, Swiatek and other top players will look to take advantage and capture the title. The event should still feature competitive matches between many of the world’s best as the 2024 season continues.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
