Rybakina pulls out of WTA Finals due to fitness concerns
Marta Kostyuk replaces the defending champion after Rybakina said her body was not physically ready to compete, ending her title defense.
- On Saturday, World No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew from the 2026 WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California, stating she was "not physically ready to compete" ahead of the tournament's Sunday start.
- The 27-year-old defending champion Rybakina struggled with injuries throughout her 2026 season, withdrawing from the Tokyo quarter-finals last month due to a neck injury.
- Despite these setbacks, the Kazakh star won both the Australian Open and US Open this year, while Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk will replace her in Group One at the tournament.
- The tournament moved from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells in July following U.S. military strikes on Iran, as regional instability prompted organizers to relocate the season-ender.
- Rybakina plans to rest at home and prepare for her 2027 campaign, aiming to return fully fit to the WTA Tour after a physically demanding season.
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The season finale on the Women's Tennis Tour goes into the scene without the world's top ranking Jelena Rybakina.
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France24World No.1 Rybakina withdraws from WTA Finals
Defending champion Rybakina said in a statement that she was "not physically ready to compete" in the traditional season-ender, which starts Sunday, and would focus on resting and recovering for her 2027 campaign. "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 is just not physically ready to compe…
Women's tennis world number one Yelena Rybakina announced on Saturday that she will not participate in the WTA year-end tournament starting on Sunday in Indian Wells, USA.
WTA leader Elena Ríbakina retired Saturday from the 2026 Championship Tournament at Indian Wells, invoking medical reasons.
Elena Rybakina Withdraws From 2026 WTA Finals, Cites Medical Issue
Defending champion and World No. 1 Elena Rybakina will not be a part of the upcoming WTA Finals. An illness has resulted in her withdrawing on the eve of the tournament. Rybakina will be hugely disappointed to miss the year-end tournament, as the 2026 season was a major success for her. She recently secured her […]
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