WTA Finals: Rybakina targets repeat as Sabalenka seeks elusive title in Indian Wells

The WTA Finals will begin on Sunday in Indian Wells, gathering the eight top women of the 2026 season. Originally scheduled in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the tournament has been moved to California's Coachella Valley for a one-off event before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina for the next three years. Here are the key points for this year’s WTA Finals.

Rybakina aims for repeat Rybakina, who secured her place in the elite eight with a strong late push during the Asian swing last season, is the world No 1 heading into Indian Wells. She has won the US Open and Ningbo in the past two months and has a strong 16-4 record at Indian Wells, where she won in 2023 and was runner-up this year.

If successful, she would become the 24th person to win the WTA Finals title. Sabalenka seeks elusive title The Belarusian, Aryna Sabalenka, aims to become the first player in history to win the WTA Finals after failing to secure the title twice before. She has reached the finals twice, in 2022 and 2025, and will be happy that the tournament is being held in Indian Wells, a venue where she has enjoyed success.

She will face Sabalenka in Group 1. Debutantes to make a statement Seven players have won the title at the WTA Finals on their debut, including Barty in 2019. Three players could join that elite club at this year’s event: Mirra Andreeva, Muchova, and Noskova. Last year, Andreeva and her team made a scheduling mistake that allowed Rybakina to overtake her in the rankings, denying her a spot in the top eight.

However, Andreeva qualified for the Finals nearly a month early and won her maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year. She has a strong head-to-head record against her fellow Group 2 players at Indian Wells.