Rebakkina withdrew due to illness, missing the quarterfinals; Badosa faced online abuse after her withdrawal and responded angrily.

In the third round of the Dubai tournament, top seed Rebakkina retired while trailing Rudich 7-5, 4-6, 0-1 due to physical discomfort, which also meant she lost the chance to rise to world No. 2 at this event.

Eyewitnesses reported that before the match, Rebakkina was emotionally low while talking to the physiotherapist. "She said she felt nauseous, had poor sleep, dizziness, and was very tired." Ultimately, prioritizing her health, the world No. 3 player from Kazakhstan decided to withdraw, allowing her opponent to advance by default.

After the news broke, fans flooded social media with well wishes: "Health comes first, we’ll wait for your full recovery," and "A Grand Slam champion’s health is most important, Mushroom, take a good rest." Notably, although Rebakkina’s team has not disclosed the exact illness, it is widely believed to be related to physical strain from a demanding schedule.

While some players exit, others seize the opportunity to shine. Australian player Rudich advanced to the quarterfinals without playing after Rebakkina’s withdrawal, but this doesn’t diminish her performance—she had already won two consecutive matches and reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal. With this achievement, Rudich earned 215 points and $98,500 in prize money, instantly moving up to No. 58 in the rankings. She will face the winner between Svitolina and Bencic in the quarterfinals, with a chance to set a new personal best.

Turning to another tennis headline — Badosa’s withdrawal controversy. In the second round of Dubai against Svitolina, Badosa retired after losing the first set 3-6 and trailing 0-2 in the second. This decision quickly sparked a torrent of criticism on social media, with many accusing her of lacking fighting spirit and wasting a tournament spot.

In response to the backlash, Badosa posted a heartfelt and firm message yesterday: "You don’t know what it’s like to endure chronic injuries and still choose to keep going. Every day you wake up unsure how your body will react, searching for solutions, fighting for what you love, giving everything despite the difficulty. Believe me, I’m the first to suffer pain and endless nightmares, trying daily to find answers. For me, stepping onto the court is always worth it. So I will keep pushing. Because it’s all about trying, and that won’t change. I will always try one more time."

She clearly stated she will not retire: "I do this for my passion and myself. If there’s even a 1% chance to continue, I will take it. That’s how I see and understand life. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to follow me. I’m sorry to say, I’m not retiring, so you’ll be seeing me for a while. Change the channel next time."

Her response quickly gained widespread support. However, some raised doubts, pointing out, "The issue is, according to statistics, out of her 216 career losses, 37 were due to injury retirements, accounting for 17%."

Tennis legend Navratilova commented: "Athletes’ bodies are fragile, especially under intense competition. No one wants to retire unless they truly cannot continue. Fans should show more understanding instead of venting emotions."

A well-known tennis commentator also noted: "Badosa’s history of withdrawals is indeed noticeable, but anyone who’s watched her play knows she never gives up a point. Her problem is physical, not mental."

Fans’ attitudes gradually shifted toward support. One wrote: "After reading her reply, I really feel for her. Those who insult her have no idea how much pain she endures daily." Another fan said: "Who would choose to retire if they could avoid it? Badosa has been very brave, and I hope she recovers from her injuries soon."

Whether it’s Rebakkina’s sudden illness or Badosa’s ongoing battle with chronic pain, these stories remind us that tennis is not only a contest of skill and strength but also a harsh test of physical limits. Meanwhile, rising stars like Rudich grasp opportunities to push forward, bringing precious hope to the sport. Wishing all players good health and looking forward to more thrilling matches.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)