Elena Rybakina closed her 2025 season in spectacular fashion by capturing the WTA Finals title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, delivering one of the most impressive year-end performances in recent memory. The victory not only adds a prestigious trophy to her growing list of achievements but also places her among the strongest contenders entering the 2026 season and the upcoming US Open.
The semifinal stage in Riyadh reflected the depth of the women’s field, featuring three players who had also advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 US Open. But unlike the storyline in New York, the season finale crowned a new champion. Rybakina, who reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows earlier in the year, was a perfect 5–0 throughout the finals and sealed her triumph with a composed 6-3, 7-6(0) win over reigning US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Rybakina’s route to the title showcased her consistency and resilience. She defeated US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova in the opening round-robin stage, later overcoming US Open semifinalist Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. Anisimova recovered from her early loss to reach the final four but fell in a rematch of the Queens final against world No. 1 Sabalenka. That set up the highly anticipated championship meeting between two of the tour’s most powerful hitters.
In the final, Rybakina displayed unwavering focus—even when she built a 6-0 lead in the second-set tiebreak against a player known for her ability to shift momentum. After the match, she explained that she maintained her concentration until the very last point. She recalled previous experiences where a solid tiebreak lead slipped away, and she was determined not to let history repeat itself. That discipline ultimately secured her the 11th WTA singles title of her career.
The triumph extended Rybakina’s winning streak to 11 matches, following her title run in Ningbo, China, and a semifinal appearance in Tokyo before withdrawing due to a back injury. Earlier in the season, she also lifted a title in Strasbourg, marking one of the most productive years of her career.
Her victory in Riyadh holds additional significance: Rybakina becomes the first WTA Finals champion representing Kazakhstan—or any Asian nation. She now holds an impressive 8–6 record against reigning world No. 1 players. Since the start of the WTA rankings in 1975, only Steffi Graf and Serena Williams have maintained a winning record against world No. 1s with at least ten matches played, placing Rybakina in elite company.
Sabalenka, who will finish the season as the year-end No. 1 for the second straight year, acknowledged Rybakina’s exceptional performance. Despite the defeat, she emphasized pride in her own season and praised her opponent’s level in the final.
The doubles event in Riyadh also delivered memorable moments. Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens secured their second WTA Finals title with a 7-6(1), 6-1 win over Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani. The pair, who previously won the year-end trophy in Fort Worth in 2022, reunited in April 2025 and reached consecutive WTA 1000 finals in Madrid and Rome before their triumph in Saudi Arabia.
As the tour shifts toward the 2026 season, Rybakina’s WTA Finals victory positions her as one of the leading contenders heading into major events—including the US Open 2026. With her powerful serve, improved consistency, and proven ability to defeat top-ranked players, she will be one of the names to watch when the action returns to New York.
Fans following the buildup to the next season can already begin analyzing players’ form and early trajectories. With several stars showing strong finishes in 2025, the competition at the 2026 US Open is set to be intense. For those looking ahead, this is the perfect moment to explore predictions, follow player performances, and track momentum leading into the new year.
