INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Top-ranked Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the WTA Finals for medical reasons before the season-ending championships begin.
“I’ve had an incredible season, but my body is just not physically ready to compete,” the 27-year-old said in a statement Saturday, a day before the event gets underway at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. “I’m going to spend some time resting and recovering at home and getting myself ready for the 2027 season.”
Marta Kostyuk moves into the draw as the first alternate in Group 1, and she will open play Sunday against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula meet in the day's other round-robin singles match.
Rybakina's withdrawal wasn't a surprise. She had pushed her pre-event news conference from Friday to Saturday and withdrew from last week's Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals in Japan with a neck injury.
Rybakina was the defending champion, having won last year in Saudi Arabia. She won the U.S. Open in September and ascended to the No. 1 ranking.
She finishes the season with a 54-14 match record and four titles, including the Australian Open.
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Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan speaks after withdrawing from a women's singles quarterfinal match at the Pan Pacific Open tennis in Tokyo Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (Fumikazu Watanabe/Kyodo News via AP)
MONTREAL (AP) — Cheikh Sabaly and Mihail Gherasimencov each scored in the second half, Yohei Takaoka secured his 14th clean sheet of the season, and the Vancouver Whitecaps secured second place in the Supporters’ Shield standings with a 2-0 victory over Montreal on Saturday.
Vancouver (19-8-7) set single-season club records with 64 points and 19 wins en route to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference ahead of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Montreal (6-20-8) was shut out for the 14th time this season.
Sabaly opened the scoring in the 50th minute. Ryan Gauld intercepted a pass in the middle of the field and found Sabaly for a right-footed shot that was saved by goalkeeper Samsy Keita. Sabaly gathered the rebound and sent a left-footed shot over Keita for his third goal of the season.
Mihail Gherasimencov scored from a difficult angle in the 83rd for his first MLS goal.
Vancouver: Awaits playoff opponent.
Montreal: Capped its worst season in club history.
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Vancouver Whitecaps' Rui Modesto (70) falls while vying for possession with CF Montreal's Luca Petrasso (13) during the second half of a MLS soccer game in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps' Thomas Muller celebrates with teammate Mihail Gherasimencov (29) following Vancouver Whitecaps' win over CF Montreal in a MLS soccer game in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps' Mihail Gherasimencov (29) scores on CF Montreal goalkeeper Samsy Keita (41) during the second half of a MLS soccer game in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps' Mihail Gherasimencov (29) celebrates his goal against CF Montreal with teammate Thomas Muller (13) during the second half of a MLS soccer game in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
