After a series of unexpected defeats at the Australian Open, Dubai Open, and Qatar Open, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Aryna Sabalenka are facing an uncharacteristically challenging start to their 2025 season.

Gauff, ranked No. 3 in the world, was knocked out in the Melbourne quarter-finals by Paula Badosa before suffering back-to-back early exits in Qatar and Dubai. The American struggled with her serve and forehand in Doha, where she lost 6-2, 7-5 to Marta Kostyuk, and then fell 6-4, 7-5 to compatriot McCartney Kessler in Dubai.

Meanwhile, world No. 1 Sabalenka has yet to regain her rhythm following her Australian Open final loss. She was defeated by Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 in Doha and then fell 7-6, 6-4 to Clara Tauson in Dubai, extending her post-Melbourne slump.

Swiatek has fared slightly better, reaching the semi-finals in Qatar and the quarter-finals in Dubai. However, both exits came as surprises, particularly in Dubai, where the world No. 2 was stunned by 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in a straight-sets 6-3, 6-3 loss that sent shockwaves through the tennis world.

The string of unexpected defeats among the WTA’s top three players has sparked speculation about the underlying cause. Swiatek believes the issue lies in the WTA’s scheduling, arguing that the demanding tour calendar is taking a toll on the top-ranked players.

“It’s a calendar thing. Like, we’re not going to be able to be consistent for many years playing week by week,” she told a reporter when asked about her struggles.

“Also it’s not like some time ago that outside of, like, top-20 players, they were just getting destroyed more. Now anybody can win these tournaments. It has been like that for a couple of years.

“But I feel like the calendar is not helping. Again, like, we need to switch continents, we need to switch surfaces, we need to switch the balls. Yeah, it’s not easy. I’m not surprised.”

Swiatek’s assessment holds weight, especially considering that several top-10 WTA players have struggled with consistency this year amid a demanding and unpredictable schedule.

World No. 4 Jasmine Paolini has managed just four singles wins since the start of the year and was unable to defend her Dubai Open title. Similarly, world No. 5 Jessica Pegula has recorded only five victories, suffering an early exit in Dubai after losing her second match to Linda Noskova. Meanwhile, world No. 8 Qinwen Zheng has won just one match in 2025.

World No. 9 Emma Navarro started the year strong with a quarter-final run at the Australian Open but has since managed only two wins.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka has pointed to the abrupt shift from Australia to the Middle East as a key factor in her recent struggles, echoing concerns about the tour’s demanding schedule.

“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,” said Sabalenka.

“Because every time I don’t feel well playing here, health-wise I’m struggling. Australia always taking a lot of energy out of me.

“I believe that I’m not that hungry on court. I’m kind of like all over the place in my thoughts and not consistent. The decisions I’m making on the court are a bit wrong, and emotionally, I’m not on my best.”

Sabalenka will be eager to regain her form quickly, as the hard-court season—her strongest surface—is nearing its end.

Indian Wells and the Miami Open are set to begin in early March, marking the final major hard-court events before the clay season takes over later in the month.

The next Grand Slam, the French Open, where Swiatek has claimed four titles, is scheduled to begin on May 25.

Emma Raducanu has returned to London following a distressing experience with a stalker at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships. The 22-year-old appeared visibly shaken as she shared an emotional reunion with her father at the airport.

After defeating Maria Sakkari in the opening round of the WTA 1000 event, Raducanu fell to Karolina Muchova in the second round, displaying signs of distress during the match. She broke down in tears, hid behind the umpire’s chair, and appeared to suffer a panic attack while security escorted a man from the stands.

The WTA later confirmed that the individual had exhibited “fixated behavior” toward Raducanu the day before and announced that he would be banned from all tour-level events to ensure her safety.

Now back in London, Raducanu’s homecoming was far from joyous, as she was seen in tears at Heathrow Airport, visibly emotional after reuniting with her father, Ion.

Emma Raducanu crying in Heathrow airport

Is the Stalking Incident that bad!?

Somebody tells her it's fine, the guy is not a threat anymore!

🫩 pic.twitter.com/5HEvbL6Kw6

— رينفري (@QRenfri) February 21, 2025

Emma Raducanu’s coach discloses ‘frightening’ details about her Dubai stalker

Emma Raducanu’s distress is understandable, given revelations from her coaching team member, Roman Kelecic. He disclosed that the man had been following her across multiple tournaments, from the Singapore Open to Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai.

Kelecic also described a disturbing incident at a restaurant in the tennis center, where the man hugged Raducanu “obsessively” and refused to leave her alone, leaving the Brit in a state of “great panic.”

“He (The stalker) approached her, started obsessively hugging her, taking pictures with her, in short, he didn’t leave her alone, and then Emma called me in a great panic for help. This was the only moment during the tournament when none of us from the team was with Emma,” he told Croatian portal Net.hr.

“The most frightening thing about it all is that he was obviously monitoring her movements the whole time and that he had a plan for how and when he would try to get to her,” he added.

Emma Raducanu Tearful Reunion with Dad at Heathrow
Read more: https://t.co/aInNMu0aQC pic.twitter.com/r22KfsRVTG

— netiblogpro.com (@netiblogpro) February 21, 2025

After spending time recovering with her family, Emma Raducanu will aim to move past the distressing experience. She is set to return to action at the Indian Wells Open, which begins on March 5.

Iga Swiatek has directly blamed the tennis schedule for her quarterfinal exit in Dubai, stating bluntly that under such conditions, “anybody can win these tournaments.”

The world No. 2 fell to 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva in a 6-3, 6-3 defeat on Thursday, marking her second surprising loss in the Middle East swing. Just last week, Swiatek was knocked out in the Doha semifinals with a heavy 3-6, 1-6 loss to Jelena Ostapenko.

Following her latest setback, the 23-year-old was clear about what she believed caused her struggles.

Notably, Swiatek was not the only top player to struggle in Dubai—Aryna Sabalenka exited in the round-of-16, while Coco Gauff was upset in her opening match.

Swiatek: It’s a calendar thing… Anybody can win

“For sure it’s a calendar thing,” the five-time Grand Slam winner said.

“Like, we’re not going to be able to be consistent for many years playing week by week. Also, it’s not like some time ago that outside of, like, top-20 players, they were just getting destroyed more.

“Now anybody can win these tournaments. It is like that since couple of years. But I feel like for sure the calendar is not helping.

“Again, like, we need to switch continents, we need to switch surfaces, we need to switch the balls. Yeah, it’s not easy. I’m not surprised.”

Against Mirra Andreeva, Iga Swiatek struggled on serve, getting broken four times while converting just one of her eight break point chances.

Clearly, the 23-year-old was far from her usual level.

“Honestly, I’m not that direct usually, but I would blame this performance on the lack of practice before because I didn’t have time,” the Pole added.

Next for Swiatek is the WTA 1000 event in Indian Wells, where she looks to defend her title.

‘Every woman has fear’ – why risks facing female athletes remain

British tennis star Emma Raducanu hiding behind the umpire’s chair after noticing a man with a history of “fixated behavior” was a troubling sight.

The incident underscored the ongoing safety concerns female athletes face.

Police detained the man at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday, issuing a restraining order against him.

“When you know it can get that far, that you feel a person is so obsessed with you, that they’ll find a way into your court, it’s very, very stressful,” former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli told BBC Radio 5 Live.

BBC Sport examines why female athletes continue to have safety concerns, the existing security measures in place, and what more can be done to enhance their protection.

The ‘extra risk’ faced by female athletes

According to the UK’s Office of National Statistics, around one in five women experience stalking in their lifetime.

For high-profile public figures, the risk is even greater, and several female tennis players have faced predatory behavior in recent years.

Emma Raducanu, 22, has previously been targeted, with a man receiving a five-year restraining order in 2022 after walking 23 miles to her home.

Fellow British player Katie Boulter has shared how she was followed both by car and on foot, while American players Danielle Collins and Sloane Stephens have also spoken out about the harassment they’ve endured.

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli recalled a disturbing experience in 2007, when a man followed her across the British grass-court season, showing up at events in Birmingham and Eastbourne before disguising himself as Wimbledon groundstaff to get closer to her.

“He found a way to purchase the same kit and get himself into my courts,” she added.

“I recognised him during my first-round match against Flavia Pennetta and I pointed it out straight away.

“I said he was not a groundsperson, he was not working there, he was someone who has been stalking me for three weeks.”

“That’s not restricted to the more visible women – but the more visible you are, the greater that risk is and feels,” she said.

“In sport, we have the situation where your body is very much on show so it makes for extra risk.”