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Top-ranked tennis star Elena Rybakina has officially withdrawn from the WTA Finals due to ongoing medical concerns just ahead of the year-end championships in Indian Wells, California.
Season-Ending Health Issues
The 27-year-old released a statement explaining that while her season was incredible, her body is not physically ready for competition. She plans to spend time resting and recovering at home to prepare for the 2027 season.
Before this decision, Rybakina also withdrew from the WTA 500 tournament in Tokyo ahead of a scheduled quarterfinal match against Leylah Fernandez, citing neck inflammation and pain as the primary reasons.
A Stellar Championship Run
Rybakina secured the year-end No. 1 ranking after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set U.S. Open final. This triumph marked her third career Grand Slam title and her second victory over Sabalenka this year, following a three-set win at the Australian Open.
Her previous victory against Sabalenka in Riyadh resulted in a historic payday of nearly $5.3 million (£3.96M). Having captured both Grand Slam titles, the Kazakhstani player aimed to become the first competitor since Serena Williams in 2014 to secure consecutive WTA Finals titles.
Draw Adjustments and Alternates
The WTA Finals relocated from the Middle East to California in July for safety reasons and will now proceed without the top-ranked player. World No. 10 Marta Kostyuk joins the eight-player draw as the first alternate and is scheduled to face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova on Sunday during the round-robin stage.
The alternate position initially belonged to six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek. However, the world No. 9 chose to conclude what she described as one of the most demanding seasons of her career on October 20 to focus on rest and recovery for 2027, holding a 278-ranking-point lead over Kostyuk.
