Overview
- Elena Rybakina beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6 (7-0) to win the WTA Finals title after going 5-0 in Riyadh.
- By winning all five matches, she earned the maximum 1,500 ranking points and rose to No. 5 with 5,583 points.
- During the trophy ceremony, Rybakina declined to join a photo with Portia Archer and later said she would keep the reason between them, noting planned talks had not happened.
- The tension traces to the WTA’s investigation and initial 12‑month ban of coach Stefano Vukov, which was overturned via private arbitration in August; Vukov was back in her box for the win.
- Tax analyses circulating after the final estimated Saudi withholding of about 15% could reduce her $5.235 million gross by roughly $785,000, subject to treaty rules and final filings.