World number one Elena Rybakina withdraws from WTA Finals

World number one Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the season-ending WTA Finals on the eve of the tournament in Indian Wells, California, according to Al Jazeera, BBC Sport, and the New York Post. Al Jazeera and Sky Sports reported that Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk will replace Rybakina in the eight-player tournament draw. [1][2][4][10]

Al Jazeera and BBC Sport both report that Rybakina pulled out because of a viral illness, with organisers noting she needs time to recover from the physical toll of the season. According to the New York Post, the 27-year-old Kazakh player stated her body is "just not physically ready to compete" and that she intends to spend time resting at home to prepare for the 2027 season. [1][2][4]

BBC Sport reported that Rybakina won both the Australian Open and the US Open in 2026, reaching the top ranking in women's singles for the first time. She had been scheduled to begin her title defence on Sunday in an attempt to become the first player to win consecutive WTA Finals titles since Serena Williams in 2014. [2]

The WTA Finals serves as the season-ending championship for the WTA Tour, featuring the top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams from the season. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Rybakina previously suffered an early exit at the China Open in October after a second-round loss to Alina Charaeva. [12][17][18]