World number one Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the WTA Finals at Indian Wells, saying she was not physically prepared to compete. Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk will replace the defending champion in the eight-player tournament after organisers confirmed on Saturday that a viral illness was the official reason for her departure.
The withdrawal follows a demanding season in which Rybakina won two Grand Slam titles but experienced physical problems in the closing stages. Last month, the Kazakh player also pulled out of her quarterfinal at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo because of a neck injury. Organisers said she needed time to recover from the year’s physical demands.
Tournament director Garbine Muguruza told Reuters that she had spoken with Rybakina and that the player had been unable to recover in time. Muguruza, a former world number one with two Grand Slam titles, said the priority was for Rybakina to rest and regain her health, with no pressure to participate before she felt ready.
Despite losing the top-ranked player, Muguruza said the strength of the remaining competitors and the round-robin format would make for a high-quality event. Muguruza, who won the Finals in Guadalajara in 2021, described the competition as demanding from the outset. “Every match could be a Grand Slam final,” she said.
Kostyuk was already training at Indian Wells as an alternate when the place became available. She will make her first appearance at the Finals following a breakthrough season that brought her the Madrid title and a position in the top 10. Muguruza said the Ukrainian had earned the opportunity and welcomed the presence of several first-time participants at an event that is difficult to qualify for.
The tournament director also addressed players’ freedom to make their own decisions after being asked about Kostyuk, who has spoken out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and declines to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents. Muguruza said organisers would support players’ choices. “They’re free to do whatever they feel,” she said.
Rybakina’s absence could help world number two Aryna Sabalenka narrow the rankings gap, according to Muguruza. Sabalenka won the Indian Wells title earlier this year. Muguruza also singled out Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva as a player who feels comfortable competing in the California desert.
The Finals were relocated from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Indian Wells because of safety concerns linked to conflict in the Middle East, Muguruza said. She described player security as the deciding factor in the move and said competitors had welcomed the new venue. Muguruza, who played regularly at Indian Wells during her career, also reported strong ticket sales.
