WTA Finals: Rybakina aiming to use title win as motivation for 2026

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Elena Rybakina is hoping to use her WTA Finals title victory over Aryna Sabalenka as motivation for next year.

Rybakina claimed the year-end crown with a straight-sets win over world number one Sabalenka, registering a 6-3 7-6 (7-0) triumph in one hour and 47 minutes.

It brought an end to a brilliant campaign in Riyadh for Rybakina, who dropped just two sets on her way to the title.

Indeed, since the event's inauguration in 1972, Rybakina has become the first player representing Kazakhstan and an Asian country overall to win the WTA Finals.

She is also the first player to defeat both Sabalenka and Swiatek at multiple WTA-level events, after previously achieving the feat en route to the title at Indian Wells in 2023.

Rybakina's victory was also her third WTA-level title in 2025, as she finished the season behind only Sabalenka (four) for titles won, though her latest victory left her wanting more.

"Well, it gives a lot of motivation, and hopefully I get some good rest and I can keep this mentality and bring it to the next season," said Rybakina, who endured a difficult start to the year.

"And yeah, hopefully we can improve even more and start strong. And I'm really glad that that was pretty stable throughout the whole tournament."

In what was the first final at the WTA Finals that was a rematch of a grand slam final since Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova in 2012, Sabalenka failed to find her groove.

But the Belarusian can hold her head high after a stellar year, in which she reclaimed the world number one spot as well as lifting her second US Open title.

She became the fourth player since 2000 to reach 9+ WTA level finals as the world number in a single calendar year after Martina Hingis (2000), Justine Henin (2007) and Serena Williams (2013).

"[Rybakina] played incredibly," 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.

"I'm leaving this tournament without any disappointment. I leave with this tournament being proud of myself and the things that we've been able to achieve."