World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus secured her spot in the WTA Finals championship match after a grueling three-set semifinal victory over Amanda Anisimova of the USA (6-3, 3-6, 6-3) in Riyadh on Friday. The four-time Grand Slam champion will face Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, in Saturday's final.
Sabalenka, competing in her first WTA Finals title match since 2021, survived a fierce challenge from Anisimova in a 2-hour, 15-minute thriller. The American pushed the Belarusian to her limits, rallying from a set down with improved precision before Sabalenka clinched the decisive break at 4-3 in the third set.
"This was one of those matches where you just fight for every point," Sabalenka said post-match. "Amanda brought incredible energy, and I'm proud we gave the fans this level of tennis."
Rybakina earned her finals berth with a comeback victory over Jessica Pegula (4-6, 6-4, 6-3), firing 15 aces to overcome the American's early momentum. The Kazakh player has now won all four of her matches at the season-ending tournament.
The Riyadh final marks a clash of contrasting styles: Sabalenka's raw power against Rybakina's strategic serving. Both players aim to cap their seasons with the prestigious WTA Finals trophy, which carries significant ranking points and a $2.4 million winner's prize.
