Sports · WTA FinalsRybakina WTA Finals withdrawal: Replacement Kostyuk loses opener, still has semifinal routeWritten November 9, 2026 at 1:03 AM UTCWatchTranscript0:07Marta Kostyuk lost her finals debut, leaving two group matches to chase a0:11semi-final.0:11The late replacement for Elena Rybokina still has a route into the last four.0:15How can she turn that last-minute invitation into a semi-final place?0:19On November eight, we reported that World No.0:21One Elena Ribekina had withdrawn with a viral illness.0:24Marta Kostiuk would replace her and face Linda Noskova.0:28That match is now complete, and Kostiuk has an opening defeat to overcome.0:31Noskova won six, two, six, four.0:34Both women were making their finals debuts, but Noskova took control early.0:38She won the first set in thirty, one minutes, then protected her advantage after0:42Kostyuk became steadier in the second.0:44The match was scheduled for noon local at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California.0:48The tournament runs from November eight th through November fifteenth.0:51Kostiuk had traveled there as an alternate and learned only on Saturday that she0:55would play.0:55She was the first alternate ranked number ten, and arrived carrying four consecutive0:59defeats.1:00A right wrist injury had also kept her out of the Billie Jean King Cup final in1:04September.1:04The invitation gave her an unexpected opportunity at the end of a difficult stretch.1:09Before the match, Kostyuk called the opportunity a blessing.1:12She said reaching the finals had never been a goal for this season.1:15Playing at Indian Wells added to her excitement, and she described returning there1:19as a cherry on top.1:20Noskova was already a familiar obstacle.1:22They'd played on clay, grass, and hard courts this season.1:25Kostyuk won during her Madrid title run.1:28But Noskova won their Wimbledon semi-final and US Open fourth round match.1:32That US Open meeting went three sets: seven, five, five, seven, six, four.1:38Noskova has now won their last three meetings.1:40In the opener, Kostyuk netted her first forehand and later sent another wide on1:44break point.1:45She immediately broke back, but Noskova broke again and became the first player to1:49hold serve, leading three, one.1:51Noskova took the first set six, two.1:54In the second, she broke for four, two and held serve through the finish.1:57Kostyuk's immediate task now shifts to the rest of Group One, where every player2:01faces the other three once and the top two advance.2:04Kostyuk still has Coco Goff and Jessica Pagula to play.2:07Those matches give her room to recover, but even winning both wouldn't guarantee2:10advancement.2:11The other group results could bring the tournament's tiebreakers into play.2:14Each group victory earns three standings points.2:17If two players finish tied, their head two head result decides it.2:20A three-way tie uses matches played, then the percentage of sets one, then the2:24percentage of games won.2:25Every set can affect qualification.2:28The group winners then face the other group's runners up in the semifinals.2:31Separately, players earn Tor ranking points.2:33Each round, Robin win brings two hundred.2:36A semi-final win brings four hundred, and winning the final brings five hundred.2:39An undefeated champion collects one five hundred.2:42Kostyuk can still reach one three hundred ranking points.2:45That requires four hundred from her two remaining group matches, another four2:49hundred from winning a semifinal, and five hundred from winning the final.2:52She'd have to advance and win all four remaining matches.2:55The tournament's prize pool is ten million dollars, with eight million for singles2:59and two million for doubles.3:00An undefeated singles champion receives three point three seven million dollars,3:04including participation fees.3:05Kostiuk's opening loss takes that unbeaten champion payment out of reach.3:09Her exact payment hasn't been confirmed, and it's unclear whether Rybakina receives3:13anything after withdrawing without playing.3:15The overall purse doesn't settle either player's individual payment.3:18Ribekina said her body wasn't physically ready to compete.3:22She withdrew on November7 and said she'd rest and recover at home before preparing3:26for the2027 season.3:27Her absence ended her title defense, while leaving her year end number one ranking3:32intact.3:32She had already secured that ranking in Tokyo.3:35Her season included titles at the Australian Open, Stuttgart, the U.S.3:38Open, and Ningbo.3:39She won fifty, four of her sixty, eight matches, including seventeen of nineteen at3:44Grand Slams.3:45Winning the US Open had ended Arna Sabalenka's ninety-nine week hold on number one.3:49Ribakina's October thirty withdrawal in Tokyo involved a neck injury.3:53For the finals, she cited a viral illness.3:55She said she wants to return to Indian Wells in March, but hasn't given a medically3:59cleared return date.4:00Group one returns November10 and plays its final round November twelve.4:03Kostyuk remains eligible for the November14 semifinals.4:07The championships are November fifteenth.4:09With the singles final scheduled for noon local, her two remaining group opponents4:13are Goff and Pagula.Read the articleStory timelineHeyDex
