Sabalenka, Rybakina set up final clash at WTA Finals

RIYADH, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus battled past American Amanda Anisimova in three sets on Friday, setting up a final clash with Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina at the 2025 WTA Finals.

Sabalenka and Anisimova had met 10 times before, with the latter leading their head-to-head 6-4. Their most recent encounter came in this year's US Open final, where Sabalenka won in straight sets.

The match began in tense fashion, with both players enduring several deuces before holding their opening service games. Sabalenka earned the first break in the fifth game. Trailing 5-3, Anisimova committed two double faults, allowing Sabalenka to break again and take the first set 6-3.

In the second set, Anisimova regrouped quickly, breaking Sabalenka's serve twice early to race to a 4-0 lead. Although the Belarusian broke back when the American was serving for the set, Anisimova immediately responded with another break to win the second set 6-3.

In the deciding set, both players held serve through the first six games. Sabalenka had a crucial break in the seventh game, then saved a break point in the eighth. Leading 5-3, she broke again to secure a 6-3 victory.

"Honestly, I wouldn't care if I would've lost this match, because I think we played an incredible match and both of us deserve this place in the Finals," Sabalenka said afterward. "That was an incredible fight and I'm super happy to get the win."

Also on Friday, Rybakina fired 15 aces to rally past American Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, extending her winning streak to 10 matches and reaching the tournament's final for the first time. ■