Rybakina and Sabalenka set to headline South Korean exhibition over the festive season
WTATuesday, 22 September 2026 at 15:30
Even Christmas will not stop the tennis. Over in South Korea, the NAVER X Hyundai Card THE SIX will take place with six of the best WTA players in the world ready to battle it out for a mouthwatering sum of cash between December 25-27 2026.
The tournament will be hosted at the Inspire Arena in Incheon and will be held over three days with a grand total of five matches set to be played. The format consists of two quarter-finals, two semi-finals and the obvious final clash.
A grand total of 1.1 million dollars is on the line for the players as they look to put their festive celebrations to one side and clash on the court. Along with the money, the event will serve as good preparation for the Australian swing which takes place right at the start of the new year.
Who is competing in Incheon?
There are some very familiar names taking to the court, most notably the two best players in the world. After clashing in the final of the US Open, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka will continue their rivalry in Incheon.
There is still a lot of tennis to be played until the end of the year, including a brace of WTA 1000 tournaments in Beijing and Wuhan along with the WTA Finals, in which Rybakina is the reigning champion. That is what helped her get to the World No.1 spot, snatching it from the grasp of Sabalenka.
The Belarusian will want that back, and if they do compete in the exhibition, there could be a bit more tension surrounding it with their rivalry continuing to simmer. Being the highest ranked players, they are automatically qualified for the semi-final stage.
Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka could be competing on court once more at the end of the year
Four other players will have to find a way through the quarter-finals. Six-time Iga Swiatek will be in action. She has tasted success recently in South Korea, winning the Korea Open last year. She will hope to translate that success from the WTA Tour to the exhibition circuit.
Roland Garros winner Mirra Andreeva is the youngest competitor in the field, but her form in 2026 has been sublime as she continues to improve. Four-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.1 Naomi Osaka and two-time major finalist Jasmine Paolini complete the field.
Entry list NAVER X Hyundai Card THE SIX
| Player | Country | Ranking |
| Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan | No. 1 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | No. 2 |
| Mirra Andreeva | Russia | No. 5 |
| Iga Świątek | Poland | No. 9 |
| Naomi Osaka | Japan | No. 17 |
| Jasmine Paolini | Italy | No. 20 |
Read also
For tennis fans, this is a great chance to still have something to follow over the festive period. It will also offer some tantalising storylines heading into the 2027 campaign. By that time, the Australian Open will be on the eyes of all of these players, the highlight of the events Down Under in January.
The two quarter-finals will be played on Christmas Day with Swiatek, Andreeva, Osaka and Paolini all commencing the action. Rybakina and Sabalenka enter the fray on the 26th with the 27th December hosting the all-important final.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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