World No. 1 Elena Rybakina was forced to end her participation in the WTA Finals, currently taking place in Indian Wells, prematurely. The cause was a viral infection that prevented the tennis player from sustaining the necessary physical load. The first alternate, Ukrainian athlete Marta Kostyuk, automatically entered the tournament draw in her place.
Incident during interview
News of her health problems emerged during a pre-tournament interview with the Canal+ Sport channel. Rybakina appeared on camera wearing sunglasses, looking exhausted. Journalist Joanna Sakovich-Kostetska, who conducted the conversation, initially congratulated the guest on reaching the top spot in the world rankings and her triumph at the third Grand Slam tournament. She also noted the Kazakh player's successes in the current season, suggesting that by the end of the year, Rybakina would become the best athlete in Kazakhstan.
However, after a short pause, the dialogue was interrupted due to a sudden deterioration in the player's well-being. The following exchange took place between the participants:
— Усе гаразд? Якщо хочете зупинитися, то так і зробімо. (Are you okay? If you want to stop, we can do that.)
— Так, будь ласка. (Yes, please.)
— Ви нормально почуваєтеся? (Are you feeling alright?)
— Ні, мені зле. (No, I feel sick.)
Official explanation and future plans
WTA representatives later confirmed that the illness was caused by a viral disease. It was this condition that led Rybakina to miss the mandatory media day before the start of the competition earlier. The tennis player herself acknowledged that her physical condition does not allow her to continue competing. She decided to return home to rest and fully recover. According to the athlete, her main focus will now be on preparing for the 2027 season.
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