WTA Finals
Elena Rybakina, the world No. 1 and defending champion, has withdrawn from the WTA Finals in Indian Wells with a viral illness. The WTA announced it on Saturday 7 November, the day before the tournament started. Marta Kostyuk, the first alternate, takes her place in Group 1.
Why Rybakina Pulled Out
Rybakina said her body was “just not physically ready to compete” and that she would rest at home and prepare for the 2027 season, adding that she hoped to be back in Indian Wells for the BNP Paribas Open in March. She had already been carrying a problem into the event: on 30 October she withdrew from her Tokyo quarter-final with a neck injury.
It ends the best season of her career. She finishes 2026 with a 54-14 record and four titles, the Australian Open, Stuttgart, the US Open and Ningbo, and she had already made sure of the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time during the Tokyo event. She won the WTA Finals in 2025, unbeaten through the week, so there will be a new champion this year.
Kostyuk Steps In
Kostyuk finished tenth in the Race to the WTA Finals. Iga Świątek, ninth, ended her season in October with a thigh injury, which made Kostyuk the first alternate. The Ukrainian won the Madrid Open in 2026 and makes her WTA Finals debut. She takes over Rybakina’s schedule in Group 1, starting against Linda Nosková in the opening match on Sunday 8 November, then facing Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. Nosková leads their head-to-head 2-1.
The Groups Now
| Group 1 | Group 2 |
|---|---|
| Coco Gauff (4) | Aryna Sabalenka (2) |
| Jessica Pegula (5) | Mirra Andreeva (3) |
| Linda Nosková (8) | Elina Svitolina (6) |
| Marta Kostyuk (alternate) | Karolína Muchová (7) |
With Rybakina gone, Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, is the highest seed left. She won the BNP Paribas Open on these courts in March and lost the 2025 final to Rybakina. Group 2 starts on Monday 9 November at 8pm UK time with Sabalenka against Muchová, followed by Andreeva against Svitolina.
How to Watch
The WTA Finals are live on Sky Sports and NOW in the UK, with play starting at 8pm UK time each day (noon in Indian Wells). Our WTA Finals live-stream guide has the full details, and the WTA Finals hub has the groups and results through to the final on 15 November.