Elena Rybakina can hold her head high despite falling at the group stages of the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Rybakina has a good reputation on tour, and that was evident after her warm embrace with Aryna Sabalenka in Saudi Arabia.
The duo went head-to-head in the final group match at the WTA Finals, with both of their fates having already been sealed.
Rybakina was out after losing to Qinwen Zheng, with the former having been beaten by Jasmine Paolini in her first group stage match.
Sabalenka meanwhile overcame both Zheng and Paolini to top the group before her shock defeat to Rybakina.
Elena Rybakina makes history with win over Aryna Sabalenka
The Kazakhstani world number five can be extremely proud of her win over Sabalenka, having played very little tennis in the build-up to the event.
READ MORE: WTA Finals 2024: How to watch, prize money, dates, prediction and everything you need to know
She has also made history with the victory, with Rybakina becoming the first player representing an Asian country to beat the world number one at the WTA Finals since the rankings were first published in 1975.
Elena Rybakina joins forces with Goran Ivanisevic for 2025
Sabalenka will be upset with the defeat, having been in formidable form in recent times, but she smiled with Rybakina at the net post-match.
The Belarusian was undoubtedly happy for her opponent given her injury issues, with Rybakina having pulled out of the US Open with a back injury.
READ MORE: Andy Roddick reacts after Elena Rybakina picks Goran Ivanisevic as her new coach for 2025
She had taken to the court just three times since Wimbledon before the WTA Finals, with her group stage exit therefore not a surprise.
| 2024 | Career | |
| Ranking | 5 | 3 (High) |
| Titles | 3 | 8 |
| Win/Loss | 41/9 | 330/141 |
| Prize money | $3,191,915 | $15,049,990 |
The world number five will now be looking towards a brighter future, having recently joined forces with Goran Ivanisevic.
And that should be a fruitful partnership, with both tennis icons having won Wimbledon once upon a time.
The Croatian coach won the major title in 2001, with Rybakina, a former world number three, lifting the trophy in 2022
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