Rybakina beats Sabalenka to seal WTA finals victory

ELENA Rybakina continued her resurgence by winning the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.

- JONATHAN VEAL

The Kazakhstani claimed her biggest title since Wimbledon in 2022 after a impressive straight sets victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

Rybakina was once part of the ‘big three’ in women’s tennis along with Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, but a dip in form, perhaps brought on by a complex coaching situation, saw her drift down the rankings.

However, the manner of her performance in Riyadh proved she is on the way back as she remained unbeaten in five matches, claiming glory in the final with a 6-3 7-6 (0) success over Sabalenka.

She claims the biggest prize on the WTA Tour for the first time and with it a cool Smillion as she moves up to fifth in the world.

“It's been an incredible week,’ Rybakina said. “I honestly didn’t expect any result, to go so far is just incredible.

“Today was such a tough battle”

An excellent season for Sabalenka, which saw her win the US Open, finish runner-up at the Australian Open and French Open and lose in the semifinals at Wimbledon, ends in disappointment as a first Finals victory remains elusive.