The Women's Tennis Association was compelled to cancel its customary group photoshoot for the 2026 Finals on Friday after Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina declined to join her rivals. The eight participating players were instead photographed individually for a new feature called Courtside Couture, which the WTA describes as a way for athletes to express their individuality and fashion sense.
Reports indicate that Svitolina's refusal to be photographed with Mirra Andreeva and Aryna Sabalenka, who represent Russia and Belarus respectively, contributed to the shift from a group portrait to individual shots. Svitolina has previously stated her policy of not shaking hands with Russian and Belarusian athletes since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Svitolina, currently ranked world No. 6, is scheduled to compete against Andreeva and Sabalenka during the group stage of the tournament. This incident occurs weeks after Svitolina announced the end of her marriage to French tennis player Gael Monfils, citing the ongoing conflict in her homeland as a significant factor in the marital distress.
In a social media post last month, Svitolina detailed the personal toll of the war. "Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside," she wrote. She acknowledged Monfils' support but explained that "some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you." Svitolina emphasized that their separation as a couple would not affect their commitment to their daughter, Skai, who would remain their priority.
Svitolina had previously cut short her 2025 season due to psychological fatigue, stating in an Instagram post that she was not in the right emotional space to continue and needed time to heal and recharge. Monfils publicly defended Svitolina against criticism following her announcement, highlighting the private nature of relationships and expressing his disappointment at the lack of kindness shown toward her.
