World number one and defending champion Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the 2026 WTA Finals at Indian Wells because of illness, with Marta Kostyuk taking her place in the season-ending tournament.
The WTA confirmed the withdrawal on Saturday, 7 November, one day before the tournament was due to begin. Organisers later identified a viral illness as the official reason.
Defending champion unable to compete
Rybakina said she was “not physically ready to compete” after a demanding season and would return home to rest before preparing for 2027.
The 27-year-old Kazakhstan player entered the event as the defending champion and the year-end world number one. She won four titles during 2026, including the Australian Open and US Open, and finished the campaign with a 54–14 match record.
Reuters reported that Rybakina had arrived at Indian Wells after injury concerns late in the season. She withdrew from a quarter-final in Tokyo in October because of a neck problem.
Kostyuk moves into the draw
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, the first alternate, will replace Rybakina in Group One. She is scheduled to face Linda Noskova in Sunday’s opening match before later round-robin contests against Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
Associated Press reporting carried by NBC Sports said Rybakina’s withdrawal followed the postponement of her pre-tournament media appearance and her recent fitness problems.
Tournament director Garbiñe Muguruza described the late withdrawal as disappointing but said Rybakina needed time to recover from the physical toll of the season.
Major change before opening play
The absence of the top-ranked player changes the competitive picture at the eight-player championships. Rybakina had been seeking to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2014 to win consecutive WTA Finals titles.
The WTA Finals are scheduled to run from 8 to 15 November at Indian Wells in California.
