Rybakina defeats Sabalenka to claim maiden WTA Finals title

RIYADH, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-3, 7-6 (0) to become the first Asian player ever to win the WTA Finals singles title on Saturday night.

Sabalenka held a better head-to-head record of 8-5 heading into Saturday's final, with their most recent meeting was in this year's Wuhan Open quarterfinals, where Sabalenka prevailed in straight sets. Since then, Rybakina has been riding a 10-match winning streak on the tour.

In the opening set, both players held serve through the first five games before Rybakina broke in the sixth, winning four points in a row. Despite facing two break points in the next game, she held firm behind powerful serves and aggressive baseline play, taking the set 6-3.

The second set proved much tighter, with both players holding serve through the first 12 games. Sabalenka had two break points, and set points, in the 10th game, but Rybakina saved both. In the tiebreak, Rybakina was unstoppable, sweeping seven straight points to seal the victory.

"I was trying to stay very focused," Rybakina said after the match. "And I think even on the tiebreak, only when I heard the game, set, match then I realized that the match is finished, because I also had experience of being up on the tiebreak and losing it. So honestly, I was just focusing really at each point. And I'm very, very happy that I managed to win it and win it in two."

"She played incredible," Sabalenka said. "I feel like I did my best today. It didn't work, but I think so many things I have to be proud of." ■