Tennis world number one Rybakina withdraws from WTA Finals due to virus

What the report says

Elena Rybakina, the defending champion and world number one, withdrew from the WTA Finals in Indian Wells on the eve of the event, citing a viral illness and saying she was not physically ready to compete. The withdrawal opens the eight-player field to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, who was already on site as an alternate and practicing when the change was announced. Al Jazeera reported the tournament organisers described the exit as disappointing, while noting Rybakina needs time to recover after a demanding season.

Tournament director Garbine Muguruza said she had spoken with Rybakina and that the Kazakh player had not recovered in time after late-season physical problems. The report also said Rybakina had recently withdrawn from the quarterfinals in Tokyo because of a neck injury, adding to concerns about her fitness. Muguruza said the event still features a strong lineup and that the round-robin format should produce a high standard of tennis.

Kostyuk, who has had a breakthrough year that included the Madrid title and entry into the top 10, is making her WTA Finals debut. Muguruza praised the depth of the field and said the tournament would support players in choices tied to their beliefs or comfort. The move to Indian Wells from Riyadh was also framed as a safety-based decision, with organisers citing the conflict in the Middle East region as a factor in relocating the finals.