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Tennis
The world No 1 missed media day through illness ahead of the WTA Finals, casting doubt over her participation in the season-ending event despite a dominant 2026 campaign.
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Elena Rybakina's 2026 campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary. Titles at both the Australian Open and the US Open have propelled the Kazakh star to the summit of women's tennis, displacing Aryna Sabalenka as world No 1.
Yet as the WTA Finals approach, question marks hover over the top seed's fitness.
Rybakina missed media day on 6 November due to illness, raising eyebrows ahead of the season-ending showpiece. Should she prove unable to take part, Marta Kostyuk stands ready as an alternate, having finished just over 400 ranking points shy of direct qualification.
The warning signs have been there. Rybakina endured a difficult stretch across the Asian swing, suffering early exits in three events - including the China Open and the Pan Pacific Open - while withdrawing entirely from the Wuhan Open.
For a player who has dominated the biggest stages this year, that run of form was jarring.
Despite those wobbles, Rybakina's lead in the rankings is commanding enough that her year-end No 1 status is beyond doubt. She holds a sizeable points cushion over Sabalenka, ensuring the title regardless of what happens at the Finals.
The real question now is whether her body will allow her to cap a brilliant season with one more trophy.
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Updated
Copyright 2026 VIASPORT
Eva Hernández, Editor-in-Chief
VIASPORT uses AI to generate, enhance, and quality-assure its journalism. While we strive to create engaging and accurate material, imagery, grammar, and spelling may occasionally deviate from conventional standards.
