Key points
- World No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew from the 2026 WTA Finals at Indian Wells on November 7, one day before the tournament began.
- Rybakina said she was not physically ready to compete and would rest and recover at home ahead of the 2027 season.
- A WTA spokesperson confirmed the official reason for the withdrawal was a viral illness.
- Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, the first alternate, replaced Rybakina in Group 1 and was scheduled to face Linda Noskova on Sunday.
- Rybakina entered the event as defending champion after winning the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh without losing a match.
- She completed her 2026 WTA Tour season with a 54-14 win-loss record and four titles: the Australian Open, Stuttgart, US Open and Ningbo.
- Rybakina had secured the year-end world No. 1 ranking after winning the US Open in September.
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the 2026 WTA Finals at Indian Wells, just one day before the season-ending championship was due to begin. The defending champion said she was not physically ready to compete and would take time to recover before preparing for the 2027 season. The WTA later confirmed that a viral illness was the official reason for her withdrawal.
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, the first alternate, has moved into the eight-player singles draw in Rybakina’s place. Kostyuk was scheduled to open her Group 1 campaign against Linda Noskova on Sunday, while Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were set to meet in the other opening-day match in the group.
Rybakina puts health ahead of title defence
Rybakina announced her decision on Saturday, November 7, after arriving in Indian Wells for the tournament. In a statement released by the WTA, she said she was sad to miss the event but that her body was not ready for competition following an outstanding season. She added that she would rest and recover at home before turning her attention to 2027.
The WTA confirmed the withdrawal as medical, with a spokesperson subsequently identifying a viral illness as the official reason. The announcement followed concerns about Rybakina’s physical condition in the closing weeks of the season. She had also withdrawn from the Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals in Tokyo the previous month because of a neck problem.
Rybakina’s decision ends her WTA Tour season with a 54-14 match record and four titles. Her 2026 trophies came at the Australian Open, Stuttgart, US Open and Ningbo. She had already secured the year-end No. 1 ranking after her US Open triumph.
Defending champion replaced by Marta Kostyuk
Kostyuk entered the draw as the first alternate after Rybakina’s withdrawal. The Ukrainian was placed in Group 1 and was scheduled to face Noskova in the opening round-robin match on Sunday. Gauff and Pegula were the other two players in the group.
The change gives Kostyuk an opportunity to compete at the season-ending championships after being named as the first reserve. Her arrival also changes the balance of a group that had been set to include the defending champion. The tournament’s round-robin format means each player will have multiple opportunities to reach the semi-finals, but the late alteration leaves Kostyuk with limited preparation time.
Rybakina had been seeking to defend the title she won in 2025 in Riyadh. She went unbeaten in that edition after qualifying for the event as the last player in the field. Her withdrawal means the WTA Finals will have a new champion in 2026.
A remarkable season ends with four titles
Despite the late-season setback, Rybakina’s 2026 campaign has been one of the strongest of her career. She won the Australian Open in January and added the US Open in September, securing her third Grand Slam singles title. The New York victory also helped her reach the top of the WTA rankings for the first time.
Her other titles came in Stuttgart and Ningbo, contributing to a 54-win season on the WTA Tour. The year-end No. 1 ranking was secured before the WTA Finals, so her withdrawal does not undo that achievement. It does, however, remove the top-ranked player and defending champion from the season’s final tournament.
WTA Finals move ahead at Indian Wells
The 2026 WTA Finals are being held at Indian Wells in California. The event had originally been scheduled for Saudi Arabia but was moved to Indian Wells. Rybakina’s withdrawal is a major change to the field on the eve of the opening matches, but the tournament will continue with Kostyuk taking the vacant place in Group 1.
Rybakina’s focus now shifts to recovery and preparation for the new season. Her statement made clear that she hopes to return to Indian Wells in March, while the immediate focus at the WTA Finals turns to Kostyuk’s late entry and the remaining contenders’ bid for the year-end title.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Elena Rybakina withdraw from the 2026 WTA Finals?
Rybakina said she was not physically ready to compete after a demanding season and would rest at home before preparing for 2027. A WTA spokesperson later confirmed that the official reason for her withdrawal was a viral illness.
Who replaces Elena Rybakina at the WTA Finals?
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk has replaced Rybakina in the eight-player singles draw. Kostyuk was the first alternate and moved into Group 1, where she was scheduled to face Linda Noskova in her opening round-robin match on Sunday.
Is Elena Rybakina the defending WTA Finals champion?
Yes. Rybakina won the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh, going unbeaten after entering the tournament as the last qualifier. Her withdrawal from the 2026 edition means she will not defend that title, and a new champion will be crowned.
What was Elena Rybakina’s record in the 2026 season?
Rybakina finished her 2026 WTA Tour season with a 54-14 win-loss record and four titles. Her trophies came at the Australian Open, Stuttgart, US Open and Ningbo. She also secured the year-end world No. 1 ranking after winning the US Open.
When did Elena Rybakina last withdraw from a tournament before the WTA Finals?
Rybakina also withdrew from the Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals in Tokyo during the previous month because of a neck problem. Her WTA Finals withdrawal was later officially attributed to a viral illness, according to a WTA spokesperson.