Red-hot Elena Rybakina scorches Aryna Sabalenka for maiden WTA Finals crown

RIYADH – Elena Rybakina clinched her biggest title since Wimbledon in 2022 by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6 (7-0) at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Nov 8.

The world No. 6 put on yet another serving masterclass and was at her returning best, as she became the first Kazakh and the first player representing an Asian country to lift the WTA Finals singles trophy.

It earned her a record US$5.235 million (S$6.8 million) in prize money.

The last stop of this season’s WTA Tour kicked off with four different Grand Slam champions in the field, but ultimately went to a player who did not even reach the quarter-finals of a Major in 2025 and was the last to qualify with a win in Ningbo and a run to the Tokyo semi-finals.

Rybakina earned 1,500 points – her biggest haul – after being denied any for her 2022 Wimbledon win, when the ATP and WTA penalised the Major for banning Russian and Belarusian players from playing in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

“It’s been an incredible week. I honestly didn’t expect any result and to go so far. I mean, it’s just incredible,” Rybakina said after collecting the Billie Jean King trophy, her third title of the season.

“Congratulations Aryna for being No. 1 (at the year end) for the second season in a row, an amazing achievement.

“Today was such a tough battle. Some moments I didn’t like here, but it’s tennis and I hope we’re going to play many more finals in big tournaments together.”

In a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open title clash won by Sabalenka, it was Rybakina who made early inroads with a barrage of powerful winners to shrug off concerns over a sore shoulder and break for a 4-2 lead in the opening set.

The ice-cool 26-year-old rallied from 15-40 down in the seventh game to tighten her hold and secure the set with more bold ball-striking from both flanks, leaving 2022 finalist Sabalenka with a mountain to climb.

Rybakina ramped up the pressure in the next set as she lost only two points in four service games. She showed her battling qualities for a clutch hold in the 10th game when Sabalenka crashed a forehand into the net.

The Kazakh cranked up her massive serve two games later and forced a tiebreak, where she grabbed the early lead and never looked back to secure her 11th straight match victory and with it the title.

“It wasn’t my best performance, but yeah, Elena you were definitely the better player,” Sabalenka said.

“You literally smashed me out of the court, so very well done. I’m happy to see you play your best tennis. It was a nice comeback at the end of this season.

“Now it’s time to enjoy your off-season and enjoy this beautiful trophy,” Sabalenka added, before fighting off tears as she thanked her own team.

“Not the result we all wanted today... I guess I’m getting old, I’m getting sensitive. So many things to be proud of.”

After the match, Rybakina refused to pose for a photo alongside Sabalenka and WTA chief Portia Archer.

Rybakina has been at odds with the tour ever since they suspended her coach Stefano Vukov in February for breaking the WTA code of conduct.

Vukov was initially suspended for a year but appealed the decision and was back in Rybakina’s corner in August. REUTERS, AFP