Marta Kostyuk won’t make her WTA Finals debut in 2026.
The Ukrainian star had an outside chance of qualifying at the expense of Karolina Muchova. Kostyuk needed to win the Ningbo Open and the Pan Pacific Open to steal the last WTA Finals spot, but fell at the first hurdle.
She retired from her opening match in Ningbo against Ekaterina Alexandrova after losing the first set. Kostyuk issued an injury update on social media after missing out on WTA Finals qualification.
Marta Kostyuk says the pain in her wrist returned causing Ningbo Open retirement
“The pain in my wrist came back, and as much as I want to keep playing, I know I need to give it more time to recover. Hoping to be back on court soon. Thank you for your support. See you next year, Asia!” said Kostyuk on Instagram.
Give us one bold prediction for the final months of the 2026 tennis season!
Earlier this year, Kostyuk withdrew from the Billie Jean King Cup Finals due to wrist pain, and unfortunately for the 24-year-old, the pain returned in Ningbo. Retiring from her second-round match against Alexandrova, Kostyuk handed Muchova the last WTA Finals qualification spot.
WTA Finals qualification race
| Seed | Player | Country | Points |
| 1 | Elena Ryabkina | Kazakhstan | 7,502 |
| 2 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | 6,560 |
| 3 | Mirra Andreeva | Russia | 6,306 |
| 4 | Jessica Pegula | USA | 5,835 |
| 5 | Coco Gauff | USA | 5,774 |
| 6 | Elina Svitolina | Ukraine | 5,229 |
| 7 | Karolina Muchova | Czechia | 4,735 |
| 8 | Linda Noskova | Czechia | 4,354 |
| – | Iga Swiatek | Poland | 4,189 |
| – | Marta Kostyuk | Ukraine | 3,920 |
Kostyuk could yet travel to Indian Wells as an alternate, though. Iga Swiatek, who sits above her in the ‘Race,’ won’t play again in 2026; therefore, Kostyuk will be the first name called if any of the eight WTA Finals participants suffer an injury. The 2026 WTA Finals begins on Saturday, November 6.
Marta Kostyuk enjoys best year of her career despite failing to qualify for the WTA Finals
The Ukrainian star hadn’t reached a Grand Slam semi-final, won a WTA 1000 event, or been ranked in the top 10 before 2026. She has now done all three, having played the best tennis of her career this season.
Kostyuk reached the French Open semi-finals and the Wimbledon semi-finals, narrowly missing out on a maiden Grand Slam final appearance, losing to the eventual champion on both occasions.
Marta Kostyuk’s 2026 Grand Slam results
- Australian Open – First round (Lost to Elsa Jacquemot)
- French Open – Semi-final (Lost to Mirra Andreeva)
- Wimbledon – Semi-final (Lost to Linda Noskova)
- US Open – Fourth round (Lost to Linda Noskova)
She won her first WTA 1000 title in Madrid, defeating Mirra Andreeva in the final. Kostyuk also reached the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals, where she lost to Coco Gauff.
Marta Kostyuk’s 2026 WTA 1000 results
- Qatar Open – Did not play
- Dubai Tennis Championships – Did not play
- Indian Wells – Third round (Lost to Elena Rybakina)
- Miami Open – Third round (Lost to Elena Rybakina)
- Madrid Open – Champion
- Italian Open – Did not play
- Canadian Open – Fourth round (Lost to Iga Swiatek)
- Cincinnati Open – Quarter-final (Lost to Coco Gauff)
- China Open – Did not play
- Wuhan Open – Second round (Lost to Maria Sakkari)
In total, Kostyuk defeated eight top-10 opponents this season, including Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, and Iga Swiatek. There is no doubt that she is now one of the best players in the world and is certainly one to look out for in 2027.
Marta Kostyuk’s 2026 Top-10 wins (8)
| Match | Opponent | Opponent’s rank | Marta Kostyuk’s rank | Score |
| Brisbane International – Third round | Amanda Anisimova | 3rd | 26th | 6-4, 6-3 |
| Brisbane International – Quarter-final | Mirra Andreeva | 9th | 26th | 7-6, 6-3 |
| Brisbane International – Semi-final | Jessica Pegula | 6th | 26th | 6-0, 6-3 |
| Madrid Open – Third round | Jessica Pegula | 5th | 23rd | 6-1, 6-4 |
| Madrid Open – Final | Mirra Andreeva | 8th | 23rd | 6-3, 7-5 |
| French Open – Fourth round | Iga Swiatek | 3rd | 15th | 7-5, 6-1 |
| French Open – Quarter-final | Elina Svitolina | 7th | 15th | 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 |
| Cincinnati Open – Fourth round | Mirra Andreeva | 6th | 11th | 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 |
The 24-year-old is likely to return ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 11. In 2026, Kostyuk played the Brisbane International before the Australian Open, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
