Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) - Elena Rybakina in Indian Wells is searching for a second successive title in the WTA Concluding Championship of the tennis season, to crown an exceptional year that she began by winning the Australian Championship title and strengthened it by being crowned in the United States Championship, which pushed her to the top of the world rankings.

Published on: 07/11/2026 - 12:15

Since her accession to the throne in September, the 27-year-old Kazakh has sought to send a new message to her rival, Aryna Sabalenka, that she undisputedly deserves the top spot in women's tennis, after she defeated the Belarusian in the finals of the two major tournaments.

The Moscow-born player is experiencing the best seasons of her career, and on Sunday she enters the final tournament of the Women's Professional Players Association as the defending champion, a year after she was crowned in Riyadh, also at the expense of Sabalenka.

The tournament, which brings together the eight best players during the season, was supposed to be held again in the Saudi capital, as has been the case since 2024.

However, it was transferred to Indian Wells, more than three hours' drive from Los Angeles, due to the war between the United States and Iran, which led to the cancellation of a number of sporting events in the Middle East.

In Indian Wells, the eight best players this season are arriving on familiar ground, as the city annually hosts one of the 1000 Points Tournaments in March.

Sabalenka, currently ranked second in the world, who at the beginning of the year won the American tournament title at the expense of Rybakina, said: “I am very happy to return to Indian Wells. I have many beautiful memories here.”

But she added: “I feel that it is a completely different tournament, both in terms of atmosphere and organization.”

Revenge atmosphere

For her part, Coco Gauff, ranked fourth in the world and winner of the 2024 edition, said, “It is strange to be here, and to sit to eat at the table designated for female players with all this space (...) It is nice to be able, in some way, to walk around the site and actually enjoy it, which is something that is not usually available to us.”

The American plays in Rybakina's group, along with her compatriot Jessica Pegula (seeded fifth) and the Czech Linda Noskova (eighth).

As for Sabalenka, she fell into a group that included the Russian world number three, Mira Andreeva, the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (sixth), and the Czech Karolina Muchova (seventh).

Whatever the result, the Belarusian, who has won four major titles, will not be able to regain first place, as Rybakina has guaranteed to remain at the top of the world rankings until the end of the year.

But she will seek to win her first title in the final tournament, a title that has repeatedly eluded her, especially after losing the final in 2022 and 2025, by “stopping hesitating so much and relying on my intuition.”

On her mind is the possibility of revenge against Rybakina, if the Kazakhstani is fully prepared, after the world number one withdrew at the end of October from the Tokyo tournament due to a neck injury.

Each player will face the other three players in her group starting Sunday. Each victory awards three points, and the first and second places in each group qualify for the semi-finals scheduled for November 14, with the final being held on November 15.

© 2026 AFP

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