Aryna Sabalenka to face Elena Rybakina in WTA Finals final after beating Amanda Anisimova

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the WTA Finals final, where she will face Elena Rybakina. Rybakina, who beat Jessica Pegula in a three-set battle, will compete in her first-ever WTA Finals final

Riyadh: No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka reached the title match at the WTA Finals for the first time in three years after overcoming Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the semifinals on Saturday.

Sabalenka will face first-time finalist Elena Rybakina, who beat No. 5 Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the other semifinal.

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Rybakina, ranked No. 6, fired 15 aces to seal the win over Pegula.

Sabalenka was pushed to the limit by No. 4 Anisimova, who matched Sabalenka’s power and aggression for over two hours in a rematch of the U.S. Open final.

The first set lasted an hour, with Anisimova missing five break points and committing 24 unforced errors.

However, Anisimova improved in the second set, breaking Sabalenka three times to force a deciding set.

In the final set, Sabalenka made the decisive break for a 4-3 lead and managed to hold on for the win.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t care if I had lost because I think we both played an incredible match and deserved this place in the finals,” Sabalenka said. “That was an incredible fight, and I’m super happy to get the win.”

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion from Kazakhstan, has won all four of her matches this week and clinched the win over Pegula on her first match point.

“It wasn’t easy to come back, but I’m glad I managed to find my way in the second set and win it in this three-set battle,” Rybakina said. “The serve, when I needed it, helped me.”

Pegula reached the final in 2023.