WTA Finals 2025: Elena Rybakina downs World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to clinch title, pockets record prize money | Tennis News - The Times of India
Elena Rybakina pulled off a commanding performance to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(0), to win the 2025 WTA Finals. Entering the tournament as the final qualifier and coming off a challenging season, Rybakina found perfect form at the right time, extending her winning streak to 11 matches. Her serving was dominant—13 aces in the final—and she never cracked under pressure, even in a tense tiebreak that she won convincingly. The victory earns her the tournament title and a record-breaking prize cheque, cementing her comeback and elevating her status among the elite in women’s tennis. Meanwhile, Sabalenka, though finishing as runner-up, sets a new single-season earnings mark.
The Key points
- Rybakina defeated Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) to lift the WTA Finals trophy.
- She entered the event as the last player to qualify yet left undefeated.
- The Kazakh star hit 13 aces in the final and was unbroken on serve.
- Her winning streak now stands at 11 matches, the longest of her career.
- She pocketed the largest prize money ever in a women’s tennis event.
- Sabalenka, despite the loss, set a new annual earnings record for the tour.
- Throughout the match Rybakina took charge with attacking ground-strokes and depth.
- Sabalenka, typically resilient, was unable to shift momentum when it counted most.
- This marks Rybakina’s first WTA Finals title, and a major boost after a rocky season.
- The result signals a shifting dynamic at the top of the women’s game heading into next year.
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