World number one Serena Williams and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard withdrew from the Dubai Classic on Saturday, one day before the start of the event.
The tournament tweeted that top seed Williams, a three-time semi-finalist, pulled out due to illness. It said Bouchard had a problem with an arm after receiving a wild card into the hardcourt tournament.
Venus Williams won her third Dubai title a year ago and will be defending her title. Play begins on Sunday, with the Premier series event awarding the top eight seeds byes into the second round at the Aviation Club.
