WTA Swaps Finals Group Photo for Portraits
The tour replaced its traditional eight-player group shot with individual portraits, a move Ukrainian Tennis links to Russian and Belarusian players.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Tennis
The WTA has replaced its traditional group photo of the eight WTA Finals qualifiers with individual portraits. Ukrainian Tennis said the absence of a group photo is due to the presence of players from Russia and Belarus, not Elina Svitolina.
Why it matters
The change draws attention to the ongoing tension around Svitolina, who has not shaken hands or posed for photos with Russian or Belarusian players since 2022. The WTA described the portrait approach as a way to celebrate each qualifier's individuality, personal style and unique story.
The WTA revealed the individual portraits on Instagram, where the post garnered 44,000 likes in just hours. Svitolina's 2026 season record is 46-14, and she is the only Ukrainian to ever qualify for the WTA Finals.
The players
Elina Svitolina
Ukrainian tennis player and the only Ukrainian ever to qualify for the WTA Finals, known for refusing to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents since 2022.
Women's Tennis Association (WTA)
The global professional governing body for women's tennis, which organizes the season-ending WTA Finals and its player promotions.
Ukrainian Tennis
The national governing body for tennis in Ukraine, which publicly explained the absence of a group photo.
The details
Ukrainian Tennis posted a statement on X saying there will be no group photo because of players from Russia and Belarus. The WTA published the individual portraits with the description 'The eight best singles players in the world,' and since 2023 the tour has displayed official messages asking spectators to avoid booing players during Svitolina's matches.
Timeline
2019: Svitolina's previous WTA Finals appearance.
2022: Svitolina stopped shaking hands or posing with Russian and Belarusian players.
2023: The WTA began displaying official messages during Svitolina's matches.
Earlier this week: The WTA announced the replacement of the group photo with individual portraits.
November 9: Svitolina opens her WTA Finals campaign against Andreeva.
Season Trajectory
The portrait decision arrives as Svitolina returns to the WTA Finals for the first time since 2019, a stage that has become a flashpoint in the wider debate over Russian and Belarusian players competing on the tour. Her presence is the focal point of a season-end event that continues to showcase divisions that have persisted since 2022.
Svitolina's opening match against Andreeva on November 9 is the first concrete test of how the WTA's crowd-management messaging will play out during her matches. Fantasy and betting audiences tracking the eight-player field should note that the group format has changed for the event's promotional materials.
The takeaway
The WTA's portrait decision shows how a governing body can use presentation choices to signal its position on sensitive geopolitical questions. Readers following the season should watch how the tour handles future promotional decisions tied to the Russia-Belarus player debate.
What happens next
Svitolina opens her WTA Finals campaign against Andreeva on Monday, November 9.
Further reading
For more on the sport's season-ending events and player rankings, explore our Tennis coverage.
