Women’s tennis: Rybakina withdraws from WTA Finals
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Elena Rybakina, world number one in women’s tennis, has withdrawn from the WTA Finals due to a viral illness, giving up her title defence. The Kazakh, who won the Australian Open and US Open in 2026, now wants to rest before the 2027 season, according to BBC Sport.
Kazakh world number one tennis player Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the WTA Finals due to a viral infection, ending her attempt to defend the title she won in 2025. The 27-year-old said her body was not physically ready to play in the tournament, according to BBC Sport cited by Punch.
Rybakina wanted to become the first player since American Serena Williams in 2014 to win the WTA Finals two years in a row. She had the best season of her career in 2026 with titles at the Australian Open and US Open, as well as victories in Stuttgart and Ningbo. She finished the year with 54 wins in 68 matches, including 17 in 19 Grand Slam matches.
