INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — World number one Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the 2026 FAGE WTA Finals in Indian Wells, citing a viral illness.
Marta Kostyuk will fill Rybakina’s place in Group 1 and face Linda Noskova in the tournament’s opening match on Sunday, in addition to Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in subsequent round-robin matches.
“I am really sad to inform all my fans and supporters that I unfortunately have to withdraw from the WTA Finals this year,” Rybakina said in a statement. “I’ve had an incredible season, but my body just isn’t physically ready to compete. I’m going to spend some time resting and recovering at home and preparing for the 2027 season. The WTA Finals is a very special tournament and I wish everyone the best of luck this week. I can’t wait to be back at Indian Wells in March!”
Rybakina entered the season’s year-end event as the defending champion, remaining undefeated into the 2025 edition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the final qualifier. This season, she was the first qualifier in singles after winning her third Grand Slam at the US Open, where she also took first place in the rankings.
Rybakina finishes her 2026 season on the WTA Driven by Mercedes-Benz Tour with a 54-14 record and four titles: the Australian Open, Stuttgart, US Open and Ningbo. Despite the withdrawal, she won the year-end WTA singles ranking No. 1 presented by PIF in Tokyo.
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