Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina
🤜 Head to Head: Sabalenka leads 8-5 (2-1 in 2025)
Sabalenka d. Rybakina 6-3, 6-3—Wuhan quarterfinals
Rybakina d. Sabalenka 6-1, 6-4—Cincinnati quarterfinals
Sabalenka d. Rybakina 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(6)—Berlin quarterfinals
Eight women entered, only two remain. Sabalenka and Rybakina blazed through group play undefeated, then clawed their way through grueling three-set semifinals to reach the final showdown of the season. The champion in Riyadh will finish with a spotless 5-0 record and pocket the maximum payout of more than $5.2 million—a record in women’s tennis.
For Sabalenka, a win would punctuate a superb wire-to-wire No.1 ranked season, and cross off another entry on her Hall of Fame to-do list. For Rybakina, it would be her biggest title outside of her 2022 Wimbledon run. Regardless of the outcome, it will be the 10th consecutive year the tournament will crown a first-time champion.
The familiar foes know each other’s firepower all too well. Both had to work overtime in their semifinal wins and fatigue could play a role. But as Sabalenka put it: “It’s the last match of the year. I’m ready for a fight.”