Elena Rybakina has just become a WTA Finals champion after delivering an outstanding display to beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 7-6 (0).
The Kazakh, who had never been past the group stage at the season-ending tournament before this year's Riyadh edition, made the first move by breaking the Belarusian in the sixth game. That one break of serve was enough for the 2022 Wimbledon champion to bag the opener.
Right out of the gate, Rybakina played her aggressive game - and it was clicking - as the world No. 6 finished the first set with five aces, 16 winners and 10 unforced errors. She also saved all of Sabalenka's three break point chances.
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In the second set, the Kazakh missed out on a total of four break points across two separate games. But she also saved Sabalenka's two consecutive set points to ultimately force a tie-break, which she stunningly won without a dropped point.
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Rybakina wins her maiden WTA Finals title, Sabalenka loses the final for the second time
For Rybakina, this was 11th overall title, and the biggest one since 2022 Wimbledon. In the past, the 26-year-old Kazakh failed to make it past the WTA Finals group stage in 2023 and 2024.
On the other side, Sabalenka remains without a WTA Finals title. The 27-year-old Belarusian was also a finalist at the season-ending tournament in 2022 - she was beaten by Caroline Garcia that year.
Rybakina mightily struggled with her form and results early in the season. Still, she concludes her season on a high note after winning Ningbo in mid-October and now taking the title at the prestigious Final-8 tournament.
