Elena Rybakina has enjoyed her best-ever season on the WTA Tour this year.
The star has won both the Australian Open and the US Open, which has helped her topple Aryna Sabalenka and become the WTA Tour’s world No 1.
Rybakina’s resurgence on the WTA Tour truly started with her victory in the WTA Finals at the backend of the 2025 season, however.
She won every single match at the Saudi Arabian tournament to collect the title for the first time in her career, as well as $5.2 million in prize money.
The star is expected to play the WTA Finals this year as the top seed, but there has been a worrying statement surrounding the world No 1.
All eight players are already at Indian Wells ahead of the tournament kicking off on November 8th, but Rybakina missed the tournament’s media day on November 6th.
Shad Powers, of The Desert Sun, confirmed the news and explained why Rybakina did not attend while the likes of Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Aryna Sabalenka did.
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“Some news of sorts from WTA Finals. Defending champ Elena Rybakina did not make her media day responsibilities today due to an illness,” wrote Powers.
“She doesn’t play until Sunday … BUT if she were not able to compete, Marta Kostyuk is here as an alternate and would step in.”
Kostyuk ended the season just over 400 ranking points away from the cutoff for WTA Finals qualification, so she would be a worthy addition to the tournament, however it would be very difficult for Rybakina to take.
Rybakina might have had a season to remember in 2026, but her Asian swing was more than disrupted. She only ended up playing three tournaments in Asia, which included two early exits.
The star was knocked out in her opening round match at the China Open, against Alina Charaeva, as well as the quarterfinals of the Pan Pacific Open.
She also missed the Wuhan Open, so it has not been an easy time for the world No 1 in recent months.
Should she be forced out of the WTA Finals due to illness too, it would be a very underwhelming end to what has been a terrific season for Rybakina.
As well as winning the Australian Open and the US Open, Rybakina also claimed titles at the Ningbo Open and the Stuttgart Open.
No matter what happens at the WTA Finals, the star has already been confirmed to be the year-end world No 1, which is testament to her success in the 2026 season.
Rybakina currently sits 1614 ranking points above Sabalenka heading into the WTA Finals. If she does not play the WTA Finals, her next tournament looks set to be the Brisbane International.
