Former WTA Finals champion Elina Svitolina is headed back to the season-ending championships, and the 32-year-old Ukrainian is making history in the process.
Svitolina, who swept to the title undefeated in 2018, becomes the first mother to qualify for the WTA Finals in singles since Kim Clijsters in 2010.
The former World No. 3, currently ranked sixth, will make her fourth appearance at the prestigious event and first since 2019, when she finished runner-up.
Svitolina’s qualification represents another remarkable chapter in a career defined by resilience. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she has emerged as a powerful voice and leader for Ukrainian women, who have endured extraordinary hardships while continuing to exemplify courage and grit on the WTA Tour.
The Ukrainian has also let her tennis do the talking.
WTA Finals 2026 – Race to Indian Wells
| Player | Points |
|---|---|
| Elena Rybakina (Q) | 7,503 |
| Aryna Sabalenka (Q) | 6,560 |
| Mirra Andreeva (Q) | 6,371 |
| Jessica Pegula (Q) | 5,835 |
| Coco Gauff (Q) | 5,774 |
| Elina Svitolina (Q) | 5,131 |
| Karolina Muchova | 4,735 |
| Linda Noskova (Q) | 4,354 |
| Iga Swiatek | 4,190 |
| Marta Kostyuk | 3,921 |
Svitolina has captured two titles in 2026, winning in Auckland before claiming her third Rome crown — and first at the Foro Italico since 2018. She also reached the Dubai final, bringing her career singles title haul to 20, fifth-most among active players.
Svitolina is one of just two players aged 30 or older to have already qualify for this year’s WTA Finals, which will be played from November 8-15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Karolina Muchova is in position to qualify after Iga Swiatek’s loss to Maja Chwalinska in Wuhan today.
Tickets are available here for this year’s WTA Finals.
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