Rybakina clinches 2025 WTA Finals title with straight-sets victory over Sabalenka
Elena Rybakina secured her first WTA Finals crown by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0).
Elena Rybakina, 2025 WTA Finals | © Fatima Shbair/AP/SIPA
Elena Rybakina clinched the 2025 WTA Finals title with a commanding 6-3, 7-6(0) straight-sets victory over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Riyadh on Saturday.
Unbeaten throughout the week, Rybakina secured her 11th career title and a record-breaking $5.23 million prize, delivering a performance that underlined her status among the elite players on tour as she finishes the year ranked No. 5.
Sabalenka, despite a remarkable season that included four titles and a U.S. Open win, was unable to capture the elusive WTA Finals crown, finishing runner-up for the second time after her 2022 final loss to Caroline Garcia.
Sabalenka outmaneuvered
Elena Rybakina produced a mature, composed display to outmaneuver Aryna Sabalenka at the Riyadh International Tennis Complex, cementing her late-season surge to reclaim a spot among the sport’s elite.
The 26-year-old Kazakh, who had appeared in two previous WTA Finals without winning, showcased the power and precision that brought her Wimbledon glory in 2022.
From the first set, Rybakina disrupted Sabalenka’s rhythm with aggressive baseline play and a potent serve, notching two early breaks en route to a 6-3 opener. Sabalenka, world No. 1 for the second straight year, fought back fiercely in the second set, saving four break points and pushing the set into a tiebreak after holding serve consistently.
Flawless in the tie-break
However, in the tiebreak, Rybakina was flawless, dominating with crisp groundstrokes and nerves of steel to win seven consecutive points, shutting out Sabalenka 7-0. This marked Rybakina’s 11th consecutive victory of the season, an impressive streak that capped a 58-19 campaign including three titles besides Riyadh.
“I honestly didn’t anticipate any outcome like this,” Rybakina said post-match. “Today was a challenging battle against a great champion. I’m grateful to have come this far and finished undefeated in such an incredible week.”
“It was a tough battle, and Aryna remains an incredible competitor,” Rybakina aded.
Sabalenka, who won four titles this year including the US Open and made finals appearances at the Australian and French Opens, will close the season ranked world No. 1 for a second consecutive year.
Rybakina’s victory not only earned her a record payout – the highest in women’s sports history at $5.23 million – but also confirmed her resurgence into the top tier of the WTA rankings, returning to No. 5 for the first time since February. With powerful serves and unshakable composure, she proved her credentials as a premier player capable of beating the world’s best on the biggest stages.
This win also extended her positive head-to-head edge over Sabalenka, marking her as the first player in recent history to defeat both Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek multiple times at tour level.
