Marketa Kostyuk, the world No. 2 in Ukraine and No. 10 in the WTA rankings, will not be able to help the national team at the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup final tournament. The tennis player herself announced this on September 19, 2026, in her personal Instagram account, publishing an emotional message to her fans. According to Sport RBC.UA, medical diagnostics have forced the athlete to radically reassess all of her sporting plans for the coming weeks. The decision to withdraw from the team tournament was made after MRI results confirmed the need for full recovery of her wrist.
Diagnosis and the Progression of the Injury
In her statement, Kostyuk explained that wrist pain had been bothering her for several weeks already. The tennis player had hoped that the rest period after the US Open would allow her to cope with the discomfort without serious intervention; however, in her words, "unfortunately, the pain has worsened." The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conducted during the preparation for the final stage of the Cup confirmed that her wrist "needs more time and proper recovery before I can compete again." Thus, this is not a one-off overload but an injury that requires a systematic approach to treatment and a gradual return to competitive rhythm.
The Ukrainian Team Lineup and the Tournament Draw
The final round of the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup will take place from September 22 to 27 in Shengzhen, China. The Ukrainian team's current lineup still includes Elina Svitolina, Dayana Yastremska, and Lyudmyla Kichenok. The name of the tennis player who may replace Kostyuk in the squad will be announced later — the Ukrainian Tennis Federation has not yet made a final decision. In the quarterfinals, the Ukrainian team will face Belgium; the match is scheduled for Thursday, September 24. The absence of one of the key players significantly affects the coaching staff's tactical calculations, especially in doubles, where Kostyuk has traditionally been one of the main options.
Kostyuk's Reaction and Recovery Priorities
In her message to her fans, Marketa expressed regret at missing the team tournament, emphasizing that playing for the Ukrainian national team "always remains special for her." At the same time, she clearly stated her priority: the main task right now is to fully recover from the injury and return to the court in optimal physical shape. The tennis player did not give an exact timeline for her return to competition, limiting herself to noting that medical monitoring will determine the further schedule. This approach to injury management is typical for top players who aim to avoid a relapse and preserve their long-term competitiveness.
Context: Personnel Changes in Ukrainian Tennis
Kostyuk's situation comes against the backdrop of personnel decisions already made in Ukrainian tennis. It was recently announced that Oleksandr Oleynikov had been excluded from the Ukrainian national team for "non-sporting reasons," which caused a wide resonance in the sports community. Thus, the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup final tournament is unfolding for the Ukrainian team amid a double personnel uncertainty: Kostyuk's absence due to injury and the question of a replacement in the men's/team block. Nevertheless, the presence of Svitolina, Yastremska, and Kichenok in the lineup gives the team real chances of a successful performance in Shengzhen, especially given the rich team experience of all three tennis players.
