Why did Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner skip ATP Dubai Open 2026?
(Courtesy : @janniksin/@carlitosalcarazz/Instagram)
Dubai Open 2026 began from February 23.
After the conclusion of the 2026 Australian Open, both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner marked their first appearance together at the ATP Qatar Open 2026. Interestingly, the Spaniard skipped the Rotterdam Open, choosing to recover instead of defending his title.
The decision paid dividends, as Alcaraz went on to lift his second title of the season, and first ever in Doha. The Spaniard wrapped up his title clash against Arthur Fils in less than an hour, but was made to toil hard by Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev in the previous rounds.
However, World No. 2 Sinner did not enjoy a memorable Doha debut, suffering a shocking quarter-final exit at the hands of Jakub Mensik. The Italian looks to be going through a rough patch, after consecutive underwhelming outings.
The second ATP-500 competition of the Middle East swing is set to take place in Dubai, with the round of 32 contests expected to begin from February 23.
Notably, both top-two ranked ATP players have not signed up for the event. The decision was a no-brainer considering the tight scheduling and time required for these athletes to rest and recover. ATP-500 events are one-week tournaments, and having to play best of three battles for five consecutive days is not an easy task.
With the Qatar Open final taking place on 21st Feb, it would have been practically impossible for Alcaraz to be match-fit for Dubai in less than 48 hours.
Alcaraz interestingly, has never played the Dubai Tennis Championships. Sinner last competed in Dubai back in 2022, when he reached the quarter-finals before losing to Hubert Hurkacz. The Italian holds a 4-2 record in Dubai, and it remains to be seen if he returns to the tournament in the future.
Despite the absence of these two stars, the field is led by Félix Auger-Aliassime and Alexander Bublik, alongside Daniil Medvedev and the returning Jack Draper.
After impressing in Qatar Open, the young talents in Jakub Menšík and Arthur Fils will be back in action in Dubai, with Andrey Rublev, Karen Khachanov and Jiří Lehečka posing as other strong contenders.
When did ATP Dubai Open 2026 begin?
The ATP 500 event started from February 23 and will continue until February 28.
Why did Carlos Alcaraz skip Dubai Open 2026?
Alcaraz reached the Qatar Open final and went on to lift the title in Doha, leaving it practically impossible for the Spaniard to be match-fit for Dubai Open in less than 48 hours.
Why did Jannik Sinner skip Dubai Open 2026?
Sinner took a break to be fresh and in good form for the upcoming ATP 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram
Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.