Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have both confirmed they will not be playing the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Sabalenka had already withdrawn from the Qatar Open after losing the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina.
Swiatek did play the Qatar Open, where she suffered a surprise defeat in the quarter-finals to Maria Sakkari.
The best two players in the world have sent messages to their fans following their last-minute withdrawal from the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka share messages after Dubai withdrawal
World number one Sabalenka said the reason for her withdrawal was down to ‘not feeling 100 per cent’ in a statement sent through the tournament organisers.
“I’m really sorry I have to withdraw from Dubai. I have such a special connection with the tournament, the fans and the city,” said Sabalenka.
“Unfortunately, I am not feeling 100 per cent. But I hope to be back next year and wish the tournament a great event.”
Swiatek, meanwhile, also sent her apologies to the fans hoping to see her at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
“I am sorry to announce that I will not be playing Dubai this year due to a change of schedule. I hope I will come back next year to experience the next tournament. See you guys in Indian Wells.”
Indian Wells takes place at the beginning of March, meaning Swiatek will also miss the Merida Open and the ATX Open, although she was not expected to play either.
Aryna Sabalenka had been training in Dubai
Sabalenka’s decision to pull out of Dubai must have been a real last-minute decision, as she posted a video of her practising at the tournament.
On Instagram, the world number one was seen hitting balls on the Middle East event’s famous blue courts.
Sabalenka can withdraw from back-to-back events safe in the knowledge that she is head and shoulders above everyone else in the rankings.
The world number one currently sits on 10990 points, compared to the 7803 Swiatek currently has as the world number two.
However, Swiatek will likely lose her World No. 2 status as Rybakina is just 280 ranking points away from the Pole.
Rybakina reached the semi-finals of last year’s event, so if she betters that performance she will become the world number two for the first time in her career.