World No. 1 Elena Rybakina pulls out of the WTA Finals on the eve of the event; Marta Kostyuk steps in
Elena Rybakina withdrew from the WTA Finals at Indian Wells on 7 November 2026, saying her body was not ready. Marta Kostyuk takes her place in Group 1.
The essentials: Elena Rybakina, the world No. 1 and defending champion, withdrew from the WTA Finals on Saturday 7 November 2026, the day before the season-ending event opened at Indian Wells, California. The WTA said she was suffering from a viral illness. Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, the first alternate, takes her place in Group 1 and opens on Sunday 8 November against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
What did Rybakina say?
The 27-year-old from Kazakhstan announced the decision in a statement. “I am really sad to inform all my fans and supporters that I unfortunately have to withdraw from the WTA Finals this year,” she said, as quoted by the WTA and Sky Sports.
“I’ve had an incredible season but my body is just not physically ready to compete,” she added. She said she would rest at home and prepare for the 2027 season, ending with: “Can’t wait to be back in Indian Wells in March!”
The sources describe the reason in slightly different terms. The WTA speaks of a “viral illness”, Sky Sports of a “medical issue” and the Associated Press of “medical reasons”. No further diagnosis has been given.
Was the withdrawal expected?
Not entirely, but there were warning signs. According to the Associated Press, Rybakina retired from her quarter-final at the Pan Pacific Open in Japan the previous week with a neck injury, although the AP does not link that injury to her withdrawal. She had also moved her pre-tournament press conference from Friday to Saturday. The AP wrote that the announcement “wasn’t a surprise”.
What does it change for the tournament?
The WTA Finals bring together the season’s eight best singles players, split into two round-robin groups of four. The top two in each group reach the semi-finals.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Indian Wells Tennis Garden, California (outdoor hard court) |
| Dates | 8 to 15 November 2026 |
| Format | Two groups of four, top two from each group advance |
| Group 1 | Linda Noskova, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Marta Kostyuk (replacing Rybakina) |
| Opening singles matches | Noskova v Kostyuk, Gauff v Pegula (Sunday 8 November) |
Kostyuk is ranked No. 10 in the world, according to Sky Sports. After Noskova, she will face the two Americans, Gauff and Pegula, in her round-robin matches, the WTA said.
What season did Rybakina have?
The withdrawal ends a season that made her the dominant player of 2026. According to the WTA and the AP, she finished with a 54-14 record and four titles. She had already secured the year-end No. 1 ranking during the Tokyo tournament, the WTA said, so it is not affected by her absence.
| 2026 titles |
|---|
| Australian Open |
| Stuttgart |
| US Open (her third Grand Slam title) |
| Ningbo |
The US Open win also lifted her to No. 1 and made her the first singles player to qualify for these Finals, the WTA said.
Why does it matter?
Rybakina was the title holder. In 2025 she won the WTA Finals in Riyadh without losing a match, having arrived as the last qualifier, according to the WTA and Sky Sports. Her absence guarantees a new champion this year and reshapes Group 1, where Kostyuk now meets Wimbledon champion Noskova and the two Americans.
