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Elena Rybakina Wins WTA Finals, Beats No. 1 Sabalenka in Riyadh

She became the first player from Kazakhstan, the first representing an Asian country, to capture the season-ending title.

Overview

  • The 26-year-old prevailed 6-3, 7-6(0), sweeping the second-set tiebreak to secure her biggest trophy since 2022 Wimbledon.
  • She finished the event 5-0 and earned a record $5.235 million champion’s payout at the elite eight-player tournament.
  • Rybakina struck 13 aces in the final and 48 for the week, ending the season as the tour’s ace leader.
  • Arriving as the last qualifier after late-season results in Ningbo and Tokyo, she pushed her winning streak to 11 matches.
  • Sabalenka closes the year as No. 1 for a second straight season and sets a WTA single-season prize-money record.