World number one Rybakina pulls out of WTA Finals with viral illness
Kazakh star Elena Rybakina will not defend her WTA Finals title in Indian Wells. She announced on Saturday, the eve of the tournament, that her body is not ready after the best season of her career.
World number one Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the WTA Finals because of a viral illness, the BBC reported. The 27-year-old Kazakh made the announcement on Saturday, the eve of the tournament in Indian Wells. She was due to begin her title defence on Sunday. Rybakina had a chance to match American great Serena Williams. Victory would have made her the first player since 2014 to win the WTA Finals in back-to-back years. Rybakina said she was "really sad" to tell fans she had to pull out. She said she had enjoyed an incredible season, but her body was not physically ready to compete. She plans to rest and recover at home before preparing for the 2027 season. Her 2026 season was the best of her career. She won the Australian Open and the US Open, along with titles in Stuttgart…
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