Dominika Cibulkova and Maria Kirilenko pull out of Dubai, the fourth and fifth players to do so at the $2 million WTA Premier level tourney. Cibulkova retired with a hamstring injury during her match against Iveta Benesova, and Kirilenko pulled out with a neck injury. She had defeated Monica Niculescu on Monday, 6-3, 6-0.
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova withdrew due to illness. Li Na and Vera Zvonareva also pulled out because of injuries. According to the Montreal Gazette, which tracks the number retirements and walkovers (but not pre-tournament pullouts), the amount of retirements/walkovers in the first seven weeks of the year through Tuesday is 34, double the amount during the same time in 2010, when it stood at 17.