- Both singles finalists boast unbeaten records, with Saturday's winner set to claim maximum prize money
- For the 10th consecutive year, the WTA Finals will have a new name on the trophy
- WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF is part of the Saudi Tennis Federation's strategy to inspire more people to play tennis
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 06 November 2025: The stage is set for a blockbuster showdown between two of the most explosive players in tennis after Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka booked their places in the final of the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF. Top seed Sabalenka and sixth seed Rybakina entered their respective semi-finals as the only unbeaten players in the tournament; it means whoever wins Saturday's final will secure the maximum prize money - and a record cheque for women's tennis. It will also be the 10th consecutive year a new name will be on the trophy, highlighting the remarkable competitiveness of the WTA Tour. First up in the singles semi-finals at the state-of-the-art King Saud University Indoor Arena was Rybakina's match against fifth seed Jessica Pegula, and it was the American in the ascendency after securing the first set. However, Kazakhstan's Rybakina soon found her range with her powerful serve and groundstrokes to fight her way to a tense 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory. As she prepares for the final, it represents a remarkable run to end the season; Rybakina was the last player to qualify for the WTA Finals Riyadh, sealing her spot with a late flourish in the Asian swing, and she had never advanced beyond the group stage in her previous two Finals appearances. Rybakina, 26, said: 'When I came here, I didn't have many expectations. I was very happy with the way I played in Asia, but at the same time, I was quite tired. So, I was thinking 'last week, last push, and let's see what's going to happen.' I didn't expect to get this far, but I've played really well in these tough matches, and in the end, it turned out really well for me.' On facing Sabalenka in the final, Rybakina added: 'Aryna is a great champion and it's always very difficult to play against her. She also has big shots, and we've played so many times, so it's always tricky. I'll need to be focused from the first point.' Sabalenka then found herself in a similarly hard-fought battle against fourth seed Amanda Anisimova, who has enjoyed a breakthrough year and was appearing at the Finals for the first time in her career. In an extremely close match, with many games going the distance and momentum constantly swinging both ways, Sabalenka dug deep to defeat her American opponent 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The Belarusian, who began her tournament by being presented with the WTA Year-End No. 1 Singles Ranking presented by PIF trophy, will now aim to conclude another successful season with her first WTA Finals title. Sabalenka, 27, said: 'I'm super happy. It was an incredible match, incredible tennis. I feel like we both deserved this spot in the finals. I'm happy with the win. It was a battle, a tough battle.' On facing Rybakina, Sabalenka said: 'Tomorrow's another challenge. She's a great player; we've had a lot of great matches in the past, especially in the later stages of tournaments. It's going to be another great battle, another powerful game. I'm super excited to face her, and I'm ready to bring everything I have left this season. It's the last match of the year and I'm ready to fight.' Before Rybakina and Sabalenka bring the fireworks, the doubles final will set the tone and will be contested by seventh seeds Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani against fourth seeded duo Veronica Kudermetova and Elise Mertens. As the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh get set for a climactic final day, excitement continues to fill the King Saud University Indoor Arena, and with it, Saudi Arabia's tennis journey gathers even greater momentum. Now in its second year in Riyadh, the WTA Finals form part of a three-year partnership between the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) and the WTA. The collaboration underscores a shared ambition: to inspire new generations to play, watch, and engage with tennis across the Kingdom. That ambition is already translating into measurable progress throughout Saudi Arabia's tennis ecosystem, from grassroots to the elite level. Female participation in tennis has risen by 24% since the WTA Finals debuted in Riyadh 12 months ago. Meanwhile, community initiatives like the 'Tennis for All' program, in collaboration with 'Sports for All', has introduced the sport to more than 53,000 children in 2025 alone. As the two remaining singles players and two final doubles teams battle for season-ending glory, the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh stand as both a showcase of world-class tennis and a symbol of the sport's rapid rise in Saudi Arabia. Results - Friday 7 November, Day 7 of 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF: Singles: Elena Rybakina [Seeded 6] defeated Jessica Pegula [5] 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Aryna Sabalenka [1] defeated Amanda Anisimova [4] 6-3 3-6 6-3 Doubles: Timea Babos & Luisa Stefani [7] def. Su-Wei Hsieh & Jelena Ostapenko [6] 6-4 7-6 (7-5) Veronika Kudermetova & Elise Mertens [4] def. Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend [2] 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 10-6
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