Stan Wawrinka Mira Andreeva and Belinda Bencic both advanced to the third round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after Daria Kasatkina and Sara Bezirek withdrew due to injury. This development moves the two former champions deeper into the draw and changes the shape of future last-16 matchups.

Stan Wawrinka: Andreeva and Bencic advance to last 16 with walkover

Defending champion and fifth seed Mira Andreeva advanced to the third round after Daria Kasatkina withdrew with a right hip injury. Andreeva will face either Jacqueline Christian or qualifier Ella Seidel in the last 16. 2019 champion and ninth seed Belinda Bencic advances after wildcard Sara Bezirek withdrew with an abdominal injury. Bencic’s next opponent will be seventh seed Elina Svitolina or Paula Badosa.

Both walkovers were due to injuries, Kasatkina with a right hip problem and Bezirek with an abdominal problem. The absence will reschedule Andreeva and Bencic’s scheduled first fight and manual rest to prepare for deeper rounds of the event.

What a bye means for the Dubai draw

With his sudden exit, Dubai’s path changes instantly. Andreeva’s path depends on the outcome of the Cristian vs. Seidel match, while Bencic’s path depends on the outcome of the Svitolina vs. Badosa match. Each winning player qualifies for the last 16 without having to complete two rounds of matches. This will affect your on-court rhythm and recovery time going forward.

Sara Bezirek, 20, had just arrived in Dubai fresh off a breakthrough after winning her first WTA Tour title two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi as a qualifier and breaking into the top 50. His momentum was interrupted by an abdominal injury that forced him to withdraw. The nature and severity of the injuries that ended Kasatkina and Bezirek’s Dubai campaign were cited as the reason for their withdrawal from the tournament.

Immediate impact and what to watch next

• Andreeva advanced as the defending champion, advancing the fifth seed line to the last 16. Her next opponent will be either Jacqueline Christian or qualifier Ella Seidel.
• Bencic, the ninth seed and 2019 Dubai champion, will advance without playing and will face either seventh seed Elina Svitolina or Paula Badosa in the last 16.
• Bezirek’s recent title win in Abu Dhabi and rapid rise to the top 50 will be put on hold until she recovers from an abdominal injury.

These results could reshape late-game matchups and impact the seeding trajectory for the rest of the tournament. Details may change as the tournament progresses and the status of injured players becomes clearer.