Rybakina pulls out of WTA Finals with illness, Kostyuk steps in

The WTA Finals have lost their world No. 1 and defending champion before a ball has been hit. Elena Rybakina withdrew from the season-ending event in Indian Wells on Saturday, citing a viral illness. Marta Kostyuk, the world No. 10 and first alternate, takes her place in Group 1. Kostyuk will now face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in Sunday's opening match.

"My body is just not physically ready"

Rybakina announced the decision in a statement published by the WTA. "I am really sad to inform all my fans and supporters that I unfortunately have to withdraw from the WTA Finals this year," she said. "I've had an incredible season but my body is just not physically ready to compete. I'm going to spend some time resting and recovering at home and getting myself ready for the 2027 season."

She added: "The WTA Finals is a very special tournament and I wish everyone the best of luck this week. Can't wait to be back in Indian Wells in March!"

The timing is cruel. Rybakina won the 2025 edition in Riyadh without dropping a match and was the top seed this week. Her season ends with a 54-14 record and four titles: the Australian Open, Stuttgart, the US Open and Ningbo. She had already secured the year-end No. 1 ranking during the Asian swing in Tokyo, so the withdrawal does not affect that.

Kostyuk gets her debut

For Kostyuk, it is a first appearance at the WTA Finals. The Ukrainian had been listed as first alternate, with Diana Shnaider behind her. Instead of waiting on the sidelines, she now plays three round-robin matches in Group 1: Noskova on Sunday, then Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.

It also changes the picture for Noskova. The 21-year-old Czech, who won Wimbledon this summer, is also making her debut at the event. Before the draw changed she was due to open against an opponent who led their head-to-head 3-0, according to Tennis365. Now she starts against a player who, like her, is new to this stage.

Sunday's second match in Group 1 is the all-American meeting between world No. 4 Gauff and No. 5 Pegula. Their head-to-head is level at 5-5. Gauff won the title in 2024.

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A wide-open Finals

Rybakina's withdrawal leaves an event that was already unusual even harder to call. The tournament was moved from Riyadh to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California and runs from 8 to 15 November. With the top seed gone, Group 2 is the strongest section of the draw. It contains world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 Mirra Andreeva, 2018 champion Elina Svitolina and Karolina Muchova.

Group 2 starts on Monday, when Sabalenka opens against Muchova, who leads their head-to-head 3-2. The other pairing, Andreeva against Svitolina, is level at 1-1. Andreeva and Muchova are also playing the event for the first time.

That means four of the eight players in the field are debutants, and only two former champions remain. Gauff and Svitolina are the only players in the draw who know what it takes to win this title, and the champion will be crowned on 15 November.