Fiery Rybakina subdues Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6 win virginity Women’s Tennis Association finals
And then there are two…Aryna Sabalenka, 2025 us Open Championship and World#1took on 2022 Wimbledon Champions and the World#6Elena Rybakina in the championship game Women’s Tennis Association The final was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Neither had won a season-ending championship, and for Rybakina, a top-eight finish was uncertain as the regular season wound down. To qualify for Riyadh and replace Mira Andreeva, the 26-year-old Kazakhstan player must win the title in Ningbo and reach the semifinals in Tokyo the following week. Despite the odds – or perhaps because of them – she overcame these obstacles and remained unbeaten in the championship match in Riyadh.
Sabalenka, like her opponent, remained undefeated, dropping two sets in the final. Top seeds Belarus have lost in the penultimate round of the past two years and reached the final 2022lost to Caroline Garcia in two tense sets, while Rybakina has failed to make it out of the round-robin stage in the past two years.
(Associated Press Photo/Fatima Shbeir)
When Sabalenka beat Gauff in the final round-robin match, the first title was assured. In addition to the trophy, there is a check valued at $5.2 As an undefeated champion, he will receive a million-dollar bonus. Although Sabalenka leads 8-5their last two games of the season were played on hard courts. Rybakina won the toss and elected to serve.
The sixth seed easily held serve with an ace, while the top seed faced two deuces and a break point to hold on to a tie. Rybakina hits two more aces and holds on 30and Sabalenka kept the love alive with an overhead smash.
this 2022 The Wimbledon champion faced a break point in the fifth game, but hit two consecutive aces to hold on to the score. 3-2 Sabalenka made three consecutive unforced errors and lost her serve. While both men have great speed and depth, Sabalenka often seems caught off guard. Rybakina never looks rushed, even when being pulled off the sideline or into the net.
Rybakina faced double break points but rescued them with two excellent baseline winners and consolidated the break chance when Sabalenka’s backhand shot missed the baseline. world#1 The service remains in the group and uses the new ball. Although she faced two points, she held on to the match with great serving, including her first ace. Made in Rybakina 5/6 First serve and two great forehand winners to seal the victory 6-3. Sabalenka left the court after the first set. She served first in the second game and held on 30 Has a huge cross-court forehand. Rybakina upped the ante and evened the score with three aces.
Sabalenka misses 4/8 The first service game faced double break points and a tie, but the situation was maintained after the opponent returned the ball and scored. Rybakina missed 3/4 First serve, but he was interested in two excellent forehands – one across the court, the other inside, while Sabalenka held on 30 An ace goes out of bounds.
Rybakina hit three straight, including her 9th ace, reaching level three. Top seed handicap 40-15 But faced a draw before persisting 4-3 when she hits a cross-court forehand. Ribakina served with a new ball and made her first double fault, but hit three consecutive winners, including another ace, to tie the score at 4.
Sabalenka felt the pressure and accepted it, serving twice in a row, including an ace off the tee, to escape two draws and a double break point.
Rybakina suffered a second double fault at the beginning of the tenth game and struggled to get a first serve. Sabalenka faced two draws and a double set point when she made three uncharacteristic and costly mistakes.
Sabalenka buried her disappointment and rose to the occasion with three straight wins, including two aces, to lead by love 6-5! Rybakina served to hold set point, forcing the breaker to respond with three consecutive winners, including two more aces.
Sabalenka is known for her remarkable record of tiebreaks, including 18-9 Committed six unforced errors in his career against top-10 opponents and lost the game behind Rybakina 13trump card.
It was a remarkable performance for an athlete who qualified just a week before the competition. She plays with poise and no fear. She maintained a strong momentum throughout the game, never letting her opponent gain momentum and confidence.
she is done 13 trump card, 2 Double fault and win 72First and amazing percentage 73Percentage of second serve points scored. she saved 5/5 Breakpoint during conversion 1/6. She also performed well upon her return, scoring an impressive win 35% of the first sum 48Second serve return rate.
While Sabalenka will lament her inability to convert break points (0/5), she ends the season as the world’s No. 11 For the second year in a row. Although it is only the off-season on the surface, I am looking forward to it 2026 as Women’s Tennis Association The Tour showcases the best talent from a new generation, challenging the best of the best.
