Aryna Sabalenka Names Reason For Her Surprising Losses In Doha And Dubai
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Aryna Sabalenka analyzed the reasons behind her losses at the 2025 Qatar Open in Doha and the 2025 Dubai Championships.
Despite being the World No. 1 player, Sabalenka couldn't win more than one match at the two WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai. She lost in her first match at the Qatar Open and in her second match at the Dubai Championships.
These losses came after the Belarusian player started the season by winning 11 consecutive matches and reaching the Australian Open. She entered both events in the Middle East as the top seed, but with her loss, the top part of the draw cleared up on both instances.
Obviously, Sabalenka was very disappointed by losing so early, but it's maybe also something that she expected before these events started. The three-time Grand Slam champion surprised when she said that she saw these events as preparation even before they started.
Her results also reflected those words, and after her loss to Clara Tauson, Sabalenka was able to analyze why she lost so early in both Doha and Dubai.
According to the 26-year-old player, she wasn't hungry enough on the court. Sabalenka is one of the players who knows how to fire herself up on the tennis court, but she couldn't do that in the Middle East.
"I believe that I’m not that hungry on the court. I’m kind of all over the place in my thoughts and not consistent on the court. The decisions I’m making on the court are a bit wrong, and emotionally, I’m not at my best."
These two losses were not the only losses that Sabalenka experienced in the Middle East. Last year, she lost in the first round of the Dubai Championships as well. Donna Vekic beat her 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-0.
The two-time Australian Open champion is aware of the pattern, and she knows that her struggles are related particularly to this stretch of the season. Sabalenka feels like she needs to change something in her preparation to become more successful at these two WTA 1000 events.
"I'd say that for the last couple of years, I'm not doing well in the Middle East. I believe we need to change something in the preparation. Every time I don’t feel well playing here."
The Belarusian player admitted that the Australian Open usually takes a lot of energy out of her, which then prevents her from being at her best in the Middle East.
Sabalenka played in the Australian Open final every time in the past three years, so she's the only player on the WTA Tour who has the experience of finishing the first Grand Slam of the season so late every time.
"Even health-wise, I'm struggling. Australia always takes a lot of energy out of me. I believe we just need to think with the team for the future how we can improve or get better in the preparation for the Middle East."
