INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Elena Rybakina, the top-seeded contender, has officially withdrawn from the WTA Finals due to health concerns just before the highly-anticipated championships kick off.
“This season has been extraordinary for me, but I must acknowledge that my body isn’t ready to compete at this level right now,” the 27-year-old shared in a statement Saturday, a day prior to the event’s commencement at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. “I plan to take some time off for rest and recovery at home, focusing on preparing for the 2027 season.”
Marta Kostyuk steps in as the first alternate for Group 1, getting ready to take on Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in her opening match on Sunday. Meanwhile, American stars Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will face off in another exciting round-robin singles clash.
Rybakina’s withdrawal had been somewhat anticipated. Following a postponed press conference from Friday to Saturday, she also had to withdraw from the previous week’s Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals due to a neck injury.
As the reigning champion from last year’s event in Saudi Arabia, Rybakina had an impressive run, having recently clinched the U.S. Open title in September, which propelled her to the No. 1 ranking.
She wraps her season with a commendable 54-14 match record and four prestigious titles, including the Australian Open.
