Virus Forces World Number One Rybakina Out of WTA Finals, Kostyuk Steps In

Defending champion Elena Rybakina will not be there to defend her crown. The world number one has pulled out of the WTA Finals, the season-ending showpiece of women's tennis, because of a viral illness. Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk will take her place in the eight-player field.

Organisers announced Rybakina's withdrawal on Saturday, citing a virus as the official reason and saying the Kazakh star was not physically ready to compete. The Finals are being held at Indian Wells in California, where Kostyuk will now make her debut in the event.

Tournament director Garbine Muguruza said she had spoken with Rybakina. The former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion said Rybakina had been struggling with physical problems late in the season and had been unable to recover in time.

Muguruza told the Reuters news agency, '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.'

She added, 'What we want is for her to feel good, to go rest, to recover. We don't want her to feel like she has to play — only if she's ready to.'

The decision was a disappointment for Rybakina, who won two Grand Slam titles this year. Last month she also withdrew from the quarterfinals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo because of a neck injury, and physical problems have dogged her through the closing part of the season.

Rybakina's absence deprives the event of some star power, but Muguruza was not worried about the quality of the tennis. She said the round-robin format and the depth of the field would ensure a high-quality tournament.

Muguruza said, 'We have the best players. I know our world number one is not going to be able to play, but we have an amazing field, the very best. Every match could be a Grand Slam final. You really need to be ready. You cannot give one inch.'

For Kostyuk, it is a major opportunity. She was already in Indian Wells as an alternate and practising when Rybakina withdrew, and she stepped straight into the main draw.

Kostyuk, who is making her WTA Finals debut after a breakthrough season that included the Madrid title and a rise into the top 10, has earned her place among the elite.

Muguruza said, 'Marta is great. She's had a breakthrough year. With this year, we have many first-time players in the Finals, and that's very exciting. It's very hard to qualify.'

Kostyuk, known for her signature post-match backflip celebrations, has been outspoken about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and does not shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents. Muguruza said the tournament would support players in making their own decisions.