Elena Rybakina has won the WTA Finals in Riyadh and in beating Aryna Sabalenka, she’s made a serious statement.
Rybakina only qualified for the event by enjoying a solid second half of 2025, with her performances in the Grand Slam events this year nothing to write home about.
The Kazakhstan star has found some form at the right time, however and claimed the scalp of Sabalenka to go with earlier wins against Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek in the tournament.
Sabalenka praised Rybakina after the defeat, and it’s another final disappointment for the world number one as she ends the year with a loss.
Rybakina did something that nobody has managed in 15 years with the win, and she’s confessed afterwards that she’s somewhat surprised by what happened at the event.
What surprised Elena Rybakina at the WTA Finals
Rybakina is the new world number five after this event, with the player jumping ahead of Jessica Pegula to finish the year in a lofty position.
The 26-year-old admitted her surprise at winning the event when she spoke to Sky Sports Tennis after the tournament, with Laura Robson actually backing Rybakina as a dark horse before a ball was served at the event.
The winner said: “I can’t believe it still. I came without expectations. I was playing in Asia and thinking that if it doesn’t go my way, I’ll go on vacation early. But I came to the end, and it’s an incredible achievement.
“I am so happy with the way I played here, the way I stayed focused, and it was a great week for me.”
Some pundits and experts were suggesting that it’s the best Rybakina has ever played and she was keen to deliver her verdict on that sentiment too.
Rybakina added: “It was definitely a lot of tough matches. It’s the top eight, so it’s the best players in each year. It’s just incredible. I did not expect much, and each match was very difficult. I managed to win all of them, so it gives me so much motivation. I am already looking forward to the rest, but also to improve and come strong for next season.”
Rybakina managed to win the match in straight sets, with her best tennis saved for the second set tie-breaker which she won 7-0.
The performance was one she was delighted with, saying: “I know that I can play some good matches, and I came from China and Tokyo. I had been playing well, but I did not know I could maintain this level. I am very proud of what we did with the team. I stayed focused until the end. It is an amazing achievement for me to stay so focused for the whole tournament.”
Rybakina can make waves in 2026
It’s been a long road to this level of form but Rybakina is now showing the sort of form that previously saw her reach the world number three spot and win Wimbledon.
The challenge will be to gain a consistent run of form in the first instance in 2026, but then she will now believe that she can enjoy some good runs at the major tournaments.
When Rybakina is flying high in this sort of form, she can mix it with the best and beating three of the top four players in the world in the same event is no mean feat.
With a touch more belief and more deep runs in tournaments, Rybakina can once again make the winner’s circle when it comes to the big tournaments in 2026.
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