Victoria Mboko responds to Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka Dubai Open withdrawals

Victoria Mboko may have come up short in the Qatar Open final, but there is no time to dwell on it with the Dubai Tennis Championships already underway.

It is a demanding stretch of the season, with two WTA 1000 tournaments scheduled back-to-back, and the quick turnaround is particularly tough on those who went deep into Doha.

But at just 19 years old, Mboko has age and energy on her side. She will be looking to make the most of a draw that is missing some big names this week.

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have both pulled out, opening up another clear path for Mboko to put together another strong run similar to what she managed in Qatar.

Victoria Mboko responds to Dubai withdrawals of Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka

In a recent press conference, the Canadian star was asked about the two top players who had pulled out.

And with Swiatek losing early in Qatar and Sabalenka not playing at all, there is more reason for her to be positive as she continues her Middle Eastern tour.

Mboko was asked about the impact of their withdrawals on the tennis calendar, and how she manages such a quick turnaround between events.

The Qatar Open finalist explained: “I think training plays a big part, the way you train, putting a lot of emphasis on fitness. It is a lot of matches, and the tournaments are really close to each other, so it’s hard to try to manage that.

“Of course, you want to manage your tournament schedule the best you can. But yeah, I think just, from a recovery standpoint and doing good physio, having good fitness and good routines help you kind of last longer in that sense. I’m trying to improve that in a way.

“I mean, we’re always focused on it, but I think it’s important to also prioritise everything else off court that’s not related to tennis.”

Dubai Tennis Championships open door for young talent

After making the most of early exits and Sabalenka’s absence in Qatar, Mboko and several other young players will be eyeing a similar chance to break through in Dubai.

The build-up to the tournament has already highlighted just how much youth talent there is in the draw. It is not just about potential anymore – these players are starting to make an impact at the top level.

Mboko, who recently moved into the top ten, is leading this wave of young talent alongside Mirra Andreeva.

But there is more depth behind them. Alexandra Eala, Iva Jovic, Sara Bejlek and Zeynep Sönmez are all part of a group that is quickly closing the gap on the established names.

This week could be another step forward for one of these rising stars, especially with some big names missing from the field.

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