Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, the world No. 1 and defending champion, has withdrawn from the WTA Finals because of a viral illness. The Women’s Tennis Association announced her withdrawal on November 7, a day before play began in Indian Wells, California.
“I’ve had an incredible season but my body is just not physically ready to compete,” Rybakina said in a statement.
Rybakina will become the first player representing Kazakhstan to finish the season at No. 1 in the WTA rankings. She secured the year-end top spot on October 29 by beating fellow Kazakhstani Yulia Putintseva in the second round in Tokyo.
Rybakina’s replacement, the world No. 10 Marta Kostyuk, lost the tournament opener 6-2, 6-4 to Czech player Linda Noskova on November 8.
The tournament runs from November 8 to 15. The eight singles players are divided into two groups, with the top two in each advancing to the semifinals. Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula join Kostyuk and Noskova in Group 1. Group 2 features Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, Mirra Andreeva of Russia, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, and Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.
Rybakina’s withdrawal ends her bid to defend the title she won by beating Sabalenka in the 2025 final in Riyadh. With that victory, she became the first player representing an Asian country to win the WTA Finals.
Rybakina reached No. 1 for the first time on September 14, 2026. She had already clinched the top ranking by beating China’s Zheng Qinwen in the US Open quarterfinals. She went on to beat Sabalenka again in the final.
The victory in New York was Rybakina’s third Grand Slam singles title, following Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open in January 2026. The French Open is the only major she has yet to win.
Rybakina said she planned to rest and recover at home before the 2027 season. She said she was looking forward to returning to Indian Wells in March for the BNP Paribas Open, a WTA 1000 event.
