Rybakina beats number 1 Sabalenka to win the WTA Finals

Elena Rybakina won the WTA Finals after putting in a near-flawless performance to beat No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6 (0) on Saturday (Nov. 8, 2025).

The sixth Rybakina hit eight aces and converted the only break of the match on the indoor hard court in Riyadh.

“It was an incredible week. I honestly didn’t expect any results and to get this far is just incredible,” Rybakina said of a title run that included wins over No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek, Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula.

It was a second defeat in the final of the season-ending tournament for Sabalenka, after the four-time Grand Slam winner lost to Caroline Garcia in the 2022 title match.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, played her first title match in her third consecutive WTA Finals appearance.

She collected $5.23 million after going 5-0 in the event featuring the top eight women. According to the WTA, this was the largest payout in the history of women’s sports. Sabalenka earned $2.7 million as runner-up.

Rybakina broke for a 4-2 lead in the first set, and Sabalenka then saved four break points in the second to force the tiebreak. The Belarusian player came into this year’s match with a record of 22-2 in tiebreaks, but was left out in this match and hit a backhand return long on match point.

Rybakina recorded her season-best 45th hardcourt victory on the tour. The 26-year-old Kazakhstani became the 10th consecutive winner of the WTA Finals. She will end the year at career-high No. 5, following a 58–19 record with three titles.

Sabalenka finishes at No. 1 for the second season in a row. This year she won four titles, including the US Open, and has 63 match victories. She also reached the finals of the French Open and Australian Open.

“She played unbelievable,” Sabalenka said of Rybakina. “I feel like I did my best today. It didn’t work out, but I think there are so many things I have to be proud of. And yes, I’m leaving this tournament without any disappointment.”