Ningbo
Rybakina leaves the best for last with WTA Finals trophy
Elena Rybakina left it late, with the last woman to qualify into the field for the WTA Finals in Saudi, toppling world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6 (0) on Saturday to lift the year-end title.
Former Wimbledon winner Rybakina only booked the eighth and final spot in the showpiece at the last second, reaching a Tokyo semi-final last month to help her on the road to Riyadh.
Rybakina’s trophy – her third of the season – was worth in excess of UDS 5 million as the Saudis continue to move into tennis through the power of prize money and perks.
The Kazakh also lifted trophies in Strasbourg and Ningbo before becoming the 10th consecutive first-time WTA Finals champion.
She wrapped up the season with a 58–19 record, a personal best.
Rybakina took a 4-2 lead to win the opening set against the world’s top player and swept the second -set tiebreaker to lift the trophy.
Sabalenka ended the season with four titles including the US Open.