rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
Elena Rybakina overpowered Aryna Sabalenka in the championship match of the WTA Finals Riyadh, dismissing the top seed 6–3 7–6(0).
The sixth-seeded Rybakina largely dictated the tempo in the opening set, securing a crucial break for 4–2 and then holding serve to extend her lead to 5–2, fending off three break points along the way. She closed out the set confidently, 6–3.
The second set was much tighter, with both players holding serve throughout. Sabalenka showed great composure and serving power, saving two break points to hold for 5–4. After failing to convert two set points in the following game, plus a costly netted forehand, she responded in style, blasting three consecutive aces in a love hold for 6–5. Rybakina, however, stayed composed under pressure and forced a tiebreak with another solid hold.
Despite the tightness of the set, the tiebreak was one-sided, as Rybakina swept all the points to clinch the victory and deny Sabalenka the WTA Finals title in the Belarusian’s second final at the tournament.
Rybakina was superb at the 2025 WTA Finals, and her triumph in the championship match comes as no surprise as she had defeated Sabalenka in the round-robin stage here in Riyadh last year. Undefeated in the Serena Williams Group, Rybakina posted commanding wins over Amanda Anisimova, Iga Swiatek, and alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova before overcoming Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. Pegula played a clever, tactical match, but she couldn’t withstand the barrage of free points Rybakina generated with her booming serve. It’s no wonder, as Rybakina leads the WTA Tour in aces this season, firing an astounding 513.
This marks Rybakina’s first WTA Finals title. Along with the trophy, she takes home a remarkable $5.23 million in prize money.
