Marta Kostyuk Steps In at WTA Finals After Elena Rybakina Withdraws
Elena Rybakina pulled out of the season-ending tournament due to a viral illness, allowing Marta Kostyuk to join the elite field in California.
Marta Kostyuk stepped into the draw at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California, following the late withdrawal of defending champion Elena Rybakina due to a viral illness. Rybakina, who captured the US Open title in September by defeating Aryna Sabalenka, announced her decision on Saturday before the tournament's opening matches.
The 27-year-old released a statement explaining that her body was not physically ready to compete after a demanding season. "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," Rybakina stated.
Rybakina's withdrawal meant she could not defend the championship she won the previous year in Saudi Arabia. Her preparation had already been disrupted earlier in the week when she delayed her pre-event press conference and previously withdrew from the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals because of a neck injury.
With Rybakina sidelined, Kostyuk entered as the first alternate in Group One. Her unexpected addition immediately set up a challenging opening-round matchup against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
The sudden change in opponents created unique tactical hurdles for Noskova, who had spent the entire week preparing for Rybakina's playing style. The two competitors had recently faced each other at the US Open in a tight three-set battle during the fourth round, which Kostyuk won.
Despite the short-notice adjustment, Linda Noskova secured a dominant victory over Marta Kostyuk in their round-robin encounter. Noskova took control by closing out the opening set 6-2 and successfully withstood a subsequent fightback from Kostyuk to seal the win on Sunday.
The season-ending WTA Finals feature the top eight players on the women's tour divided into two round-robin groups. Group One consists of Marta Kostyuk, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Linda Noskova, while Group Two features Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Elina Svitolina, and Karolina Muchova. The top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals.