The Kazakh fired 15 aces and received 73 % of her first-serve factors on her method to a hard-fought win.
Elena Rybakina celebrates throughout her semi-final match in opposition to Jessica Pegula on the WTA Finals in Riyadh on November 7, 2025. PHOTO: AFP
RIYADH:
Elena Rybakina claimed a tenth consecutive victory by defeating Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to succeed in the championship match on the WTA Finals in Riyadh for the primary time.
The Kazakh fired 15 aces and received 73 % of her first-serve factors on her method to a hard-fought win.
The 26-year-old Rybakina awaits high seed Aryna Sabalenka or Amanda Anisimova within the last, with a shot at clinching her greatest title since 2022 Wimbledon together with a document $5.23 million.
“It was such a tricky battle, it is all the time very tough to play in opposition to Jessica,” mentioned Rybakina, who’s now 3-3 head-to-head in opposition to Pegula.
“She began fairly properly, I used to be a bit sluggish. She broke me, it was not straightforward to come back again however I am glad I managed to seek out my method within the second set and win it on this three-set battle.
“Positively the serve, after I wanted it, it helped me. I used to be making an attempt to remain targeted every level, we had some very powerful rallies. I am actually completely happy in the long run I managed to push myself a bit extra and received it.”
The Dubai resident is simply the third participant representing an Asian nation – behind Zheng Qinwen and Li Na – to succeed in the ultimate of this occasion.
Rybakina exited from the group stage in every of her earlier two appearances on the WTA Finals, however is undefeated thus far this week within the Saudi capital.
Friday’s semi-final was Pegula’s thirty first three-set match of the 12 months, which is a document on the ladies’s tour in 2025 and essentially the most contested by a WTA participant in a singles season since 2019.
The oldest participant to succeed in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals since Venus Williams in 2017, Pegula was the runner-up on the occasion in 2023.
Pegula performed a near-flawless opening set but additionally benefitted from the 25 unforced errors coming off of Rybakina’s racquet.
The American was hugging the baseline, placing strain on Rybakina, and claimed a one-set lead in 41 minutes.
Rybakina, who as soon as once more was taking part in with a taped shoulder, began utilizing her killer serve to most impact, and managed to interrupt Pegula for a 3-1 benefit.
With the momentum firmly on her facet, Rybakina appeared on her method to a decider as she served for the second set at 5-3.
Pegula discovered a tiny window although and attacked Rybakina’s second serve, forcing some double faults and breaking for 4-5.
A marathon tenth recreation witnessed 4 deuces, three recreation factors and two break factors, earlier than it was finally snatched by Rybakina, who took the semi-final into a 3rd set.
