World number two Jannik Sinner suffered a shock quarter-final exit at the Qatar Open against Jakub Mensik, while Carlos Alcaraz fought back to reach the last four.
The Italian fell to a 6-7 6-2 3-6 defeat against the 16th-ranked Czech in Doha.
After a tight opening set went the way of the underdog, Sinner appeared to regain composure by winning four straight games to dominate the second.
However, Mensik caught the major winner off guard in the decider, breaking serve in the opening game and again at 5-3 to seal a career-defining victory.
The Czech number one will now face Frenchman Arthur Fils as he continues his pursuit of a third singles title.
Alcaraz extends winning streak
In contrast to his rival, Carlos Alcaraz showed resilience to overcome Karen Khachanov 6-7 6-4 6-3 in a high-quality contest lasting nearly three hours.
Khachanov claimed the opening set via a tie-break, but the world number one roared back with superior shot-making to secure his semi-final berth.
The Spaniard performed in front of a crowd that included former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim.
This victory marks a 28th consecutive win on outdoor hard courts for the Australian Open champion.
Alcaraz now sets up a tantalising semi-final meeting with defending Qatar Open champion Andrey Rublev.
Gauff cruises through in Dubai
At the Dubai Tennis Championships, Coco Gauff produced a flawless performance to dismantle Alexandra Eala 6-0 6-2.
The third seed dominated the crowd favourite from the Philippines to reach the last four.
Gauff will next bid for revenge against Elina Svitolina, having lost heavily to the Ukrainian in the Australian Open quarter-finals earlier this year.
Svitolina advanced after ending the run of lucky loser Antonia Ruzic with a 3-6 6-2 6-3 victory.
Carlos Alcaraz overcame a resilient Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets to mark a winning return to action following his historic Australian Open triumph.
The top seed was forced to save two set points in the second set before securing a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) victory in the Qatar Open first round.
It marked the Spaniard’s first competitive appearance since defeating Novak Djokovic in Melbourne to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
Hard-fought victory in Doha
“It was really difficult,” said Alcaraz.
“Arthur is a really dangerous player. Nobody wants to play against him in the first round, I’m happy with the level.”
The 22-year-old began with intent, breaking to lead 3-2 before sealing the opener with a delicate volley at the net.
However, world number 30 Rinderknech raised his level significantly in the second set.
The Frenchman earned two set points at 6-5, but the seven-time major winner found his range when it mattered most.
Aided by 28 winners throughout the contest, Alcaraz forced a tie-break and clinched the match with a decisive forehand down the line.
“I’m happy that I got through difficult moments in the match,” the world number one added.
Victory brought up a milestone 150th tour-level win on hard courts for Alcaraz.
It also extended his flawless start to the 2026 season to an 8-0 record.
He will now face France’s Valentin Royer, who defeated compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert earlier in the day.
Fitness issues hit Dubai Championships
Elsewhere, the Dubai Tennis Championships continued to be disrupted by player fitness concerns.
Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva advanced without hitting a ball after opponent Daria Kasatkina withdrew prior to their second-round tie.
Belinda Bencic, seeded ninth, also received a walkover following the withdrawal of Sara Bejlek.
On court, Paula Badosa retired after losing the first set 6-4 to Elina Svitolina.
German qualifier Ella Seidel also pulled out of her match against Jaqueline Cristian after dropping the opener 6-0.
These departures follow nine withdrawals in the first round, which necessitated seven lucky losers entering the main draw.
WTA launches calendar review council
Amidst ongoing concerns over player welfare, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced the creation of a “Tour Architecture Council”.
The body aims to address sustainability issues within the current calendar.
WTA chair Valerie Camillo stated the schedule “does not feel sustainable for players given the physical, professional and personal pressures”.
Jessica Pegula, the American world number five, will chair the new council.
The group will include former world number one Victoria Azarenka alongside tournament directors and tour chiefs.
Their objective is to develop improvements to the framework which could be implemented as early as the 2027 season.
Australian player Destanee Aiava has announced she will retire from tennis at the age of 25, condemning the sport’s culture as “racist, misogynistic and hostile”.
The world number 147 confirmed she intends to walk away from the professional tour at the conclusion of the current season.
Aiava, who is of Samoan descent, likened her relationship with the sport to a “toxic boyfriend” in a candid statement on social media.
‘Behind the white outfits’
In an Instagram post addressing her decision, the Melbourne native detailed the abuse she has received from online trolls and gamblers.
She criticised the perceived hypocrisy within the game’s traditional image.
“Behind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that’s racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit its mould,” Aiava wrote.
The 25-year-old specifically targeted those within the tennis community who had made her “feel less than” throughout her career.
She also highlighted the barrage of hate and death threats received from individuals betting on matches.
Seeking a new direction
Aiava reached a career-high singles ranking of 147 and has previously competed in the main draw of the Australian Open.
However, she admitted to feeling fear about starting over while her peers continue their sporting careers.
“My ultimate goal is to be able to wake up every day and genuinely say I love what I do,” she explained.
“I feel so far behind everyone else, like I’m starting from scratch, but that’s better than living a life that’s misaligned.”
Despite the criticism, the right-hander acknowledged the sport provided opportunities to travel and share her story.
BBC Sport has contacted the WTA for comment regarding the allegations.
Reaction from the tour
Fellow professional Amanda Anisimova described the news of Aiava’s early retirement as “disheartening”.
The American, a former French Open semi-finalist, expressed sadness despite not knowing the specific details of her colleague’s experience.
“At the end of the day it is heartbreaking she had that experience,” Anisimova said.
“Hopefully, maybe she’ll change her mind and have a restart in tennis.”
British number one Emma Raducanu continued her struggle with form and fitness as she was beaten in three sets by lucky loser Antonia Ruzic at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The 2021 US Open champion required a medical timeout after losing the opening set in just 30 minutes.
Although she showed resilience to force a decider, the world number 25 eventually fell to a 6-1 5-7 6-2 defeat.
It marks a third consecutive loss for Raducanu, raising further questions about her physical condition following a recent run of matches.
Physical concerns persist
Raducanu appeared hampered by issues with her serve throughout the contest against the Croatian world number 67.
The 22-year-old produced four double faults in the opening set alone and won less than 50% of her service points during the early stages.
This latest setback follows a heavy defeat by Sorana Cirstea and a mid-match retirement against Camila Osorio at the Qatar Open just days earlier.
Since reaching the final of the Transylvania Open, the Briton has struggled physically in each of her subsequent outings.
Ruzic seizes opportunity
Ruzic had originally lost in qualifying but entered the main draw as a lucky loser after Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto withdrew due to injury.
The Croatian started strongly, saving multiple break points early in the second set as Raducanu attempted to find her rhythm.
Raducanu displayed admirable fight to save a match point and break back when Ruzic served for the match at 5-4 in the second set.
However, after the former Grand Slam winner took an early lead in the third set, Ruzic reeled off six consecutive games to seal victory in two hours and 20 minutes.
Alex de Minaur has finally conquered the Rotterdam Open, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-2 to lift the trophy at the third time of asking.
It marks the Australian’s 11th career ATP title and his first triumph since the Washington Open in 2025.
The victory provides sweet redemption for the tireless baseliner, who had suffered defeat in the previous two showpiece events at this venue.
Third time lucky
De Minaur had endured a painful recent history in the Netherlands, falling short against Jannik Sinner in 2024 and Carlos Alcaraz last year.
However, the determined 11-time tour winner ensured there would be no repeat of those disappointments on Sunday.
“I mean, third time lucky,” de Minaur said.
“I’m so super happy. It ended up being a great week here, a place where I always feel really, really good.”
He produced a clinical display to dismiss his opponent in straight sets, controlling the tempo from the back of the court.
“I was just a step short the previous years, so it feels great to finally be able to lift the title,” he added.
Auger-Aliassime falls short
Auger-Aliassime was also appearing in his third final at the prestigious indoor hard-court tournament.
The Canadian had previously found success in Rotterdam, claiming the silverware in 2020 against Gael Monfils and in 2022 against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
But the 2022 champion could not find the answers to halt the Australian’s momentum this time around.
De Minaur’s victory cements his status as a dominant force on indoor surfaces following a strong start to the 2026 season.
Dubai Tennis Championships director Salah Tahlak has called for Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek to be stripped of ranking points following their late withdrawals from the tournament.
Calls for stricter sanctions
Tahlak described the exits as “strange” and believes financial penalties are no longer a sufficient deterrent for the world’s elite players.
Both the Belarusian world number one and her Polish rival pulled out of the mandatory WTA 1000 event on Friday.
Current regulations allow for fines, though exemptions often exist for cited schedule changes or verified medical issues.
However, the tournament chief insists that monetary sanctions are ineffective against the sport’s highest earners.
“I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players, not just fines, they should be docked ranking points,” Tahlak stated.
“I think a fine will not do anything. I feel they should deduct points from the players. A monetary fine won’t help.”
He cited a historical example involving Serena Williams, arguing that a six-figure fine is negligible compared to the potential earnings available elsewhere on the tour.
‘Strange’ decisions questioned
Swiatek attributed her absence to a “change of schedule” and a lack of mental readiness, while Sabalenka officially cited a right hip injury.
Tahlak revealed that the tournament doctor had assessed the reigning Australian Open champion’s condition and deemed the issue minor.
“It was an unfortunate surprise to get news of the withdrawal of Aryna and Iga. And the reasons for withdrawal were a bit strange,” he said.
“I even asked the doctor, ‘what is the injury?’ He said it’s a minor injury, not one that would force her to withdraw.”
Regarding Swiatek’s decision, Tahlak added that he found the move equally perplexing.
Taking action in Rome
The withdrawals from two of the tour’s biggest draws have prompted the director to escalate the issue with governing bodies.
He intends to present his case for stricter regulations during an upcoming meeting in Rome.
“We have a representative from the international group speaking on our behalf with the WTA,” Tahlak confirmed.
Both players issued apologies to the fans and organisers, expressing a desire to return to the United Arab Emirates next year.
Karolina Muchova has halted Victoria Mboko’s sensational rise by clinching the Qatar Open title with a gritty straight-sets victory.
The Czech 15th seed secured a 6-4 7-5 win in Doha to claim her first-ever WTA 1000 crown.
It marks a significant career milestone for the former French Open finalist, who relied on her experience to overcome a spirited challenge from her younger opponent.
Maiden Masters glory
Muchova battled through a tight opening set before edging the second to lift the trophy.
The victory validates the 29-year-old’s return to form following her three-set triumph over Maria Sakkari in the semi-finals.
While the Czech star celebrates her biggest title to date, the result ends a fairytale week for the Canadian teenager.
Mboko’s meteoric rise
Despite the defeat, the youngster has cemented her status as one of the tour’s most dangerous players.
Mboko stunned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals before dismissing Jelena Ostapenko in just 74 minutes to reach the showpiece event.
This was her second appearance in a WTA 1000 final, following her dream run to the National Bank Open title in Montreal last August.
The rapid ascent is remarkable considering she was ranked world number 211 just 12 months ago.
From ITF to the elite
At this time last year, Mboko was competing for a minor ITF title in Manchester and had yet to win a main draw match on the WTA tour.
Her transformation from a lower-tier prospect to a finalist on the hard courts of Doha highlights the blistering pace of her development.
However, Muchova’s tactical variety ultimately proved too much for the rising star on Saturday evening.
Victoria Mboko has powered into the Qatar Open final on her tournament debut after dismantling Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 6-2 in a one-sided semi-final clash.
The world number 13 continues her electric start to 2026, requiring little time to dispatch her experienced opponent in Doha.
Despite conceding a break of serve in the opening set, the 19-year-old prodigy seized control to secure the advantage in just 39 minutes.
Doha dominance continues
The second set proved even more emphatic as the Canadian raced out to a commanding 5-0 lead within just 20 minutes of play.
A late rally from the Latvian saw the scoreline become slightly more respectable, though the result was never truly in jeopardy.
Mboko eventually held her nerve to serve out the match, sealing her spot in the showpiece event with a clinical performance.
A rapid rise
This victory marks a significant milestone for the teenager, who is now just one win away from the title in her maiden appearance at the tournament.
She has reached her second final at WTA 1000 level, underlining her glittering ascent to the summit of the women’s game.
Attention now turns to the title decider, with the youngster awaiting the winner of the remaining semi-final between Maria Sakkari and Karolina Muchova.