World No 1 Elena Rybakina withdraws in blow to WTA Finals

World No 1 and title favourite Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the season-ending WTA Finals due to a viral illness.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed the best year of her career, winning the second and third major titles of her career at the Australian Open and US Open, as well as usurping Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the world rankings, claiming that spot for the first time.

But her withdrawal gives her Belarusian rival – who she beat in last year’s WTA Finals showpiece – the chance to close the gap between the pair.

Rybakina pulled out on Saturday saying: “I am really sad to inform all my fans and supporters that I unfortunately have to withdraw from the WTA Finals this year.

“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.”

Ukrainian first alternate Marta Kostyuk replaces Rybakina in the eight-woman Finals, held at Indian Wells in California this year. The rest of the line-up comprises Sabalenka, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina and Karolina Muchova.

Rybakina’s withdrawal means she will no longer have the chance to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to win the Finals in two consecutive years.

The Kazakh ends her season with a 54-14 win loss record, including an imperious 17-2 in grand slams, and with victories at the WTA 500 events in Stuttgart and Ningbo, while she also reached the finals of WTA 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Toronto.

But the latter half of her season since her triumph in New York has been marked by physical issues, including a neck injury which forced her to withdraw from the quarter-finals in Tokyo late last month.

WTA Finals tournament director, the former world No 1 and two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza, told Reuters: “We love Elena and we know that she was feeling so-so in Tokyo as well. I ⁠spoke to her today and she really couldn’t recover on time. What we want is for her to feel good, to go rest, to recover.”