The WTA year-end finals to be played at a new venue, Indian Wells, have got the names of its participants. Karolina Muchova was the last one to qualify as Marta Kostyuk retired from the first-round match at Ningbo Open, playing opposite Ekaterina Alexandrova. Kostyuk is ranked ten, and Muchova is seven.
A contender to take the last spot along with Kostyuk was rank number nine, Iga Swiatek. A few hours after she withdrew from the Ningbo Open, she announced that she has ended her tennis season for the year. It will be the first time since 2019 that she would not play at the tour finals. She has described 2026 as the ‘most challenging season of her career.’ She won one title this year at Toronto, defeating Elena Rybakina in the final, and no Grand Slams, for the first time since 2021.
The finals have been moved from Riyadh to Indian Wells, citing some geopolitical and security reasons, though the venue had been signed for three years, 2024-26. The Saudi Tennis Federation and WTA mutually agreed to end their hosting agreement, and the venue of the BNP Paribas Open was decided as the new host.
The top eight going to compete there, beginning on 7 November, will be Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Elina Svitolina, Muchova and Linda Noskova.
World In Sport Forum
Continue the discussion
Join other fans in the World In Sport Forum and debate the biggest talking points from this article.