Elena Rybakina secured her most significant title since Wimbledon 2022 by defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6 (7/0) at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Saturday.
Ranked sixth globally, Rybakina
delivered a stellar performance in serving and returning, becoming the first Kazakh and first player from an Asian country to win the WTA Finals singles title.
After an undefeated 3-0 run in the round-robin stage, Rybakina earned a record $5.235 million and will end the year ranked fifth in the world.
“It’s been an incredible week. I honestly didn’t expect any result, and to go so far, it’s just incredible,” said Rybakina, who played despite a shoulder injury throughout the week.
Leading the tour with 516 aces this season, Rybakina fired 13 against Sabalenka on Saturday, ending the week with a total of 48 in Riyadh.
Rybakina was the last of the eight singles qualifiers for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, achieving this by winning the 500-level title in Ningbo and reaching the semi-finals in Tokyo before withdrawing from the tournament.
Her winning streak now stands at 11 matches, and she improved her head-to-head record against Sabalenka to 6-8.
No WTA CEO, Please
After the match, Rybakina declined to pose for a photo with Sabalenka and WTA CEO Portia Archer. Rybakina has had a strained relationship with the tour since her coach, Stefano Vukov, was suspended in February for violating the WTA code of conduct. Vukov initially received a one-year suspension but appealed the decision and returned to Rybakina’s side in August.
When asked why she avoided the ceremonial photo with Archer, Rybakina preferred to keep the reason between her and the WTA chief. On whether reconciliation talks with the tour had occurred, Rybakina said: “I think we’re all doing our job and we had the opportunity to have conversations but in the end it never happened so we’re all doing our job and I think we’re going to keep it this way.”
Facing off for the 14th time, Sabalenka and Rybakina have formed one of the most compelling rivalries in the WTA, dating back to 2019.
Rybakina entered the final with a 10-match winning streak, with Sabalenka being the last player to defeat her in the Wuhan quarter-finals four weeks ago.
Both players showcased their powerful tennis from the start, staying level through the first five games. Rybakina’s defence paid off in game six, her desperate lob forcing an error from Sabalenka, who netted the overhead, leading to a break. That break was sufficient for Rybakina to secure the opening set in 44 minutes.
In the second set, Rybakina was unbeatable on serve, dropping just two points through her first four service games. Sabalenka, feeling the pressure on her serve, managed to save four break points, including two crucial ones at 4-4. Despite the momentum swinging in Sabalenka’s favour, she couldn’t capitalise on two set points on Rybakina’s serve in game 10, leading to a tiebreak. Sabalenka, despite her impressive 22-2 tiebreak record for the season, couldn’t stop Rybakina, who clinched victory after one hour and 47 minutes of play.
Rybakina finished the match with 36 winners and just 22 unforced errors. Despite her defeat, Sabalenka set a new WTA Tour record for prize money earned in a single season, with her $15,008,519 surpassing Serena Williams’s $12,385,572 in 2013.
“Not the best performance from me but Elena, you were definitely a better player today. You literally smashed me out of the court. Very well done. I’m happy to see you back playing your best tennis,” Sabalenka said during the trophy ceremony. Fighting tears, the Belarusian addressed her team, saying: “Maybe not the result we all wanted today, but so many things we… I guess I’m getting old, I’m getting really sensitive. So many things to be proud of.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
