'I'm not that hungry': Aryna Sabalenka 'all over the place' after Dubai exit
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Aryna Sabalenka has put her round-of-16 loss in Dubai down to a lack of focus as the women's world No.1 struggles to regain momentum following the Australian Open.
Sabalenka was defeated 6-3, 6-2 by Danish world No.38 Clara Tauson on Thursday AEDT to be sent packing from the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The victory was Tauson's first win over a top-five player.
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Aryna Sabalenka reacts while playing against Clara Tauson in their second-round match at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Christopher Pike via Getty Images
The defeat added to Sabalenka's lean patch since she was stunned by Madison Keys in last month's Australian Open final.
Back on court, the Belarusian lost her first-round match to Ekaterina Alexandrova in Doha last week before succumbing to Tauson in her second match in Dubai.
Sabalenka's struggles come after a strong start to 2025 in which she clinched the title at the Brisbane International before progressing to her third consecutive final Down Under.
Speaking after her straight-sets loss to Tauson, Sabalenka admitted she had lost the desire to compete in recent weeks.
"I believe that I'm not that hungry on court," she told media.
"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.
Aryna Sabalenka speaks to media after crashing out in Dubai. Robert Prange via Getty Images
"These [last] two tournaments weren't the best at all. I'll just leave it in the past and move on."
While the three-time grand slam champion confirmed she had been battling sickness in Dubai, she said she was recovering.
Historically, Sabalenka has not had much luck during the Middle Eastern leg of the tour.
The 26-year-old has not made it further than the quarter-finals in any of her nine appearances in Dubai, and after winning the title in Doha in 2020 has only progressed to the last 16 once.
"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," Sabalenka said.
"Every time I don't feel well playing here. Even health-wise I'm struggling. Australia always taking 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."
Tauson did not have the best preparation leading into the match with Sabalenka after a late-night finish in the previous round.
After two hours and 41 minutes on court, Tauson outlasted Elina Svitolina to win in three sets.
"I've had some crazy 24 hours," Tauson said afterwards.
"I think I slept maybe five hours last night. We went to sleep at 3:30am and I didn't know what shape I was going to come out here in. But a pretty good one it seems."
Tauson will next meet Linda Noskova in the quarter-finals after the Czech player upset the fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula in two sets.
