Elena Rybakina’s WTA Finals campaign came to an abrupt end before it even began after the defending champion interrupted a live interview, telling the interviewer that she was not feeling well before withdrawing from the season-ending tournament. The world number one pulled out on Saturday, November 7, ahead of the competition in Indian Wells, with Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk replacing her in the eight-player field.
The worrying moment came during an interview with journalist Sasa Kostecka for Canal+ Poland, when Rybakina appeared uncomfortable and was asked whether she wanted to stop the conversation. The Kazakh responded, “Yes, please… I don’t feel well”, bringing the interview to an early end.
Tournament organisers later confirmed that a viral illness was the official reason behind her withdrawal. Rybakina also said she was not physically ready to compete and needed time to rest and recover ahead of the 2027 season.
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Garbine Muguruza Opens Up On Elena Rybakina’s Health After WTA Finals Withdrawal
WTA Finals tournament director Garbine Muguruza expressed disappointment over Rybakina’s absence but stressed that the priority was allowing the Kazakh to recover.
The former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion revealed that she had spoken with Rybakina and that the defending champion had struggled to recover from physical problems towards the end of the season.
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