By Tony Fairbairn
Elena Rybakina [6] def Aryna Sabalenka [1] 6-3 7-6(0)
Elena Rybakina is aiming to keep her motivation for next season after claiming over five million dollars in prize money as a result of her triumph at the WTA Finals.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Elena Rybakina is targeting big things for 2026 as she aims to maintain her mentality after defeating Aryna Sabalenka to win the WTA Finals.
Elena Rybakina [6] def Aryna Sabalenka [1] 6-3 7-6(0)
Elena Rybakina is the WTA Finals champion! The Kazakh defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to win her first WTA Finals crown. Furthermore, Rybakina has claimed over five million dollars in prize money after becoming an undefeated champion at the event. It was the first time since the Australian Open a couple of years ago that the pair met in a big final but no nerves were shown as both players were authoritative on serve with Rybakina looking the more dominant.
There was a few early openings for the Kazakh but Sabalenka remained cool, calm and collected under pressure to fend off the Rybakina pressure. Eventually the persistent pressure from Rybakina paid off but it happened in uncharacteristic fashion. Usually it’s the attack of Rybakina that gets talked about but it was her defensive skills that earned her the break as a missed Sabalenka smash saw Rybakina break for a 4-2 lead. Despite some late pressure from Sabalenka, Rybakina continued serving down aces as she comfortably served out the opening set in 45 minutes.
The second set saw Rybakina continue her impressive tennis on return with Sabalenka becoming increasingly frustrated. That frustration didn’t creep into Sabalenka’s tennis though which was a good sign as that had been a theme this season. Two break points were saved as she aimed to continue applying scoreboard pressure on Rybakina. The pair continued to trade baseline blows as Sabalenka was trying different things in order to poke holes in Rybakina’s game.
That plan wasn’t working as well so far with Rybakina having two more break points to have the chance to serve for the match. The world number one came in clutch though and produced a vital hold that saw her take a 5-4 lead in the second set. It was a crucial hold of serve for Sabalenka who had now started to play with more risk and was rewarded with two set points to take this match into a deciding set. There was no panic from Rybakina who saved both break points and this second set would be decided by a tiebreak.
A dominant tiebreak was produced by Rybakina as the Kazakh won the WTA Finals title for the first time in her career and claimed more than five million dollars in prize money.
Rybakina praises focus and mentality after WTA Finals triumph
A late season surge has delivered Rybakina the ultimate goal as she is back in the winners circle at a big event.
The Kazakh is five million dollars richer after being an undefeated champion and more importantly will rise to world number five ahead of next season.
Speaking after the match Rybakina admitted her focus is what got her over the line in a tense contest against Sabalenka.
“I was trying to stay very focused,” Rybakina told the WTA website.
“And I think even on the tiebreak, only when I heard the game, set, match then I realized that, yeah, the match is finished, because I had also experience being, being up on the tiebreak and losing it. So honestly, I was just focusing really.”
Heading into this event Rybakina played a stretch of events in Asia and won a couple of titles to book her place in Riyadh.
However, that could have gone against her with fatigue potentially playing a part in the end of her season.
Instead Rybakina admits that a lack of pressure and expectation on herself saw her win the ultimate prize in Saudi Arabia.
“I guess I was not putting too much pressure on myself. It’s a lot of challenges when you come from tournament to tournament, even if it’s not a long travel,” Rybakina explained to the WTA website.
“You need to get used to the new conditions, new balls, learning how to control them. We did only two days of practice, and I went right into my first match. It was not easy. But the advantage I had was the serve, that’s what we were focusing on because we knew in the longer rallies I wouldn’t be feeling so confident because we just arrived.
“I was trying to go for early shots. I was really aggressive, I would say, the whole tournament. The best players, they will give you some chances but not that much. I was taking everything as soon as possible.”
Now, Rybakina is hoping to move onto bigger and better things starting with some Grand Slam success.
Wimbledon 2022 is Rybakina’s only Grand Slam title which is simply not good enough for someone with her talent.
Now the Kazakh is hoping to perform in bigger matches for next season.
“All that happened this week, I can bring to the next season. It gives me so much more motivation to work even more because we did good progress in the little blocks between the tournaments,” Rybakina explained to the WTA website.
“Physically, even when I wasn’t at my best, we did a good job. I’ve experienced winning a Slam, losing in a final to Aryna [2023 Australian Open] … each match like this brings so much experience and this time it went my way, everything worked.
“I’ll try to carry every positive thing from this tournament into my next big matches.”
However, if Rybakina wants to have any chance of Grand Slam success then she will need to maintain her mentality.
“Well it gives a lot of motivation, and hopefully I get some good rest and I can keep this mentality and bring it to the next season,” Rybakina concluded to the WTA website.
Sabalenka ‘proud’ of final run but admits simplicity is needed
On the other side of the net, it’s disappointment for Sabalenka who’s wait for a first WTA Finals title goes on.
Although Sabalenka had her chances in the second set, it wasn’t to be as she aims to refresh herself ahead of next season.
Reflecting on her week in Riyadh, Sabalenka admitted she is ‘proud’ but also said that she needs to stop overthinking.
“After a little time, I feel actually great. I lost this match. She played incredible. I feel like I did my best today. It didn’t work,” Sabalenka told the WTA website.
“But I leave this tournament being proud of myself and the things that we’ve been able to achieve. I was maybe a little bit emotional today. But it didn’t really affect my game. I was just maybe overthinking today, maybe too much.”
It’s been a successful year for Sabalenka despite the defeat as she ends the year as world number one having defender her US Open crown as well.
After a tough defeat, Sabalenka will be heading straight for some tequila as she rests up for next season.
“And how to recover after such a tough loss? I mean, the good thing is that I’m always there. The bad thing this season, I lost most of the biggest finals I made,” Sabalenka observed to the WTA website.
“So I guess I’ll just sit back in Maldives having my probably tequila and think back and try to analyze my maybe behaviour, my emotions and think that actually it’s been pretty good so far. I just need to get little bit better with myself a little bit more, and hopefully next season I’ll improve.”
How to Watch/Follow WTA Finals 2025