World number one Rybakina withdraws from WTA Finals

World number one Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the WTA Finals because she does not feel "physically ready to compete".

Rybakina triumphed at the Australian Open and the US Open in a stellar 2026 as she established herself as the top-ranked women's singles player for the first time.

She was set to begin her bid to emulate American great Serena Williams by becoming the first player since 2014 to win the WTA Finals in back-to-back years on Sunday.

But the 27-year-old Kazakh announced on the eve of the tournament that she would not be able to defend her title in Indian Wells.