WTA Finals: will be final between Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka
It will be Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka who will compete in the final act of the WTA Finals. The two won their respective semifinals in Riyadh, beating the former Jessica Pegula in three sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-3 the final), the latter Amanda Anisimova also 2-1 (with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3).
Rybakina was able to get the better of her U.S. opponent, who is one position ahead of her in the WTA rankings (they are fifth and sixth), in just over two hours by taking back the opening set that had gone to Pegula. The American had managed to make it her own by taking it to 3-2 after three consecutive games marked by as many breaks. In the second set, Kazakhstan first brought the contest to 3-1, only to respond with a counterbreak after losing her serve in the ninth game. Three more consecutive breaks in the third set (4-2 to 5-3) then decided her victory for the 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 final.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, gained access to the final act of the WTA Finals in almost two and a half hours, but taking in turn three sets to get the better of Anisimova. Thus, a very intense match between the world No. 1 and No. 4, with the first game already marked by 15 points and three break points cancelled by the Belarusian. Her opponent nullified as many in the next game, only to break serve on 3-2 and again in the ninth game. Anisimova, however, even escapes to 4-0 in the second set, making the two breaks at the end of the set in vain. It was the last concession made to her by the No. 1 women’s ranking, who in the deciding set controlled and then accelerated from 2-3 to the final 6-3.
Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka will return to face each other in a now classic challenge in women’s tennis these days. Memorable on August Bank Holiday 2025 was the Kazakhstanwoman’s 6-1, 6-4 victory in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters 1000. For her it was, at the time, the fourth success in eleven previous matches with the Belarusian tennis player.
