WTA Marta Kostyuk WTA Ningbo 2026

Kostyuk explains her withdrawal and announces what will happen with her season

Fernando Murciego - 21 Oct 2026
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Marta Kostyuk breaks her silence after retiring in Ningbo. Source: Getty

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has announced that she will not return to compete in Asia this season after withdrawing this Wednesday from the WTA 500 in Ningbo due to a right wrist injury. The world number ten explained on her social media that she needs more time to recover, leaving it uncertain when she will be able to return to the courts.

Kostyuk was forced to retire from her second-round match against Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova after losing the first set 6-4. Although she wanted to continue in the Chinese tournament, physical discomfort prevailed, and the player from Kiev chose not to take any more risks. Hours after her withdrawal, she wanted to share with her followers the reason for her decision and provide an update on her physical condition.

"The pain in my wrist has returned, and while I still wanted to keep playing, I understand that I need to give it more time to heal. I hope to be back on the court as soon as possible. Thank you for your support. See you next year, Asia!" wrote the Ukrainian tennis player.

Kostyuk left without options to play the WTA Finals

The withdrawal in Ningbo also represents a significant blow to Kostyuk's hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals, the tournament that brings together the eight best players of the season. The Ukrainian needed to at least reach the final of the Chinese championship to maintain her chances of surpassing her rivals in the annual ranking. With her withdrawal, Karolina Muchova secured her spot at the end-of-season event.

So far, Kostyuk has not officially announced the end of her season, although she has ruled out continuing to compete on the Asian continent. The player was scheduled to participate in the Tokyo tournament next week, but her priority now is to recover from the discomfort that has reappeared at a crucial moment in the calendar. Her progress will determine the next steps for a player who currently ranks tenth in the world and now needs time to return to compete at full capacity.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Kostyuk explica su retirada y anuncia qué pasará con su temporada