Elena Rybakina is the champion at the WTA Finals after the Kazakh defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 7-6(0).
It’s the Kazakh’s first title at the season-ending finale as she prevented Sabalenka from winning the title in Riyadh.
Both players started the match red-hot on serve but it was Rybakina that was applying persistent pressure on return.
Usually it’s the attacking tennis of Rybakina that gets talked about but it was the defensive side of her game that earned her the break of serve as a missed smash saw Rybakina break for a 4-2 lead.
Despite some late pressure from Sabalenka as the set reached its conclusion, it was Rybakina who was calmer in the big moments as the sixth seed took the first set 6-3.
In the second set, Rybakina continued her attacking intent on return as she created two break points in the third game.
However, Sabalenka remained focused on serve and the world number one saved two more break points in the ninth game as she was hanging on by a thread.
The US Open champion did eventually earn some break points which were actually set points as she looked for the killer blow.
There was no panic from Rybakina though as she saved the set points with the second set being decided by a tiebreak.
A flawless tiebreak was produced from Rybakina against an erratic Sabalenka with the Kazakh claiming the title in Saudi Arabia.
It means Rybakina has won 11 of her last 12 matches and wins more than five million dollars in prize money as undefeated champion.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka’s wait for a first WTA Finals title goes on as she heads to the Australian Open as world number one.
