Elena Rybakina’s triumphant victory over the new world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals marked a significant high point in a challenging year. The Kazakh tennis star showcased resilience and skill, defeating the Belarusian in a rematch of their 2023 Australian Open final. The intense battle in Riyadh ended with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory for Rybakina, serving as a reminder of her formidable talent and ambitions for the future.
Rybakina, 25, faced a rough start in the match, falling behind 1-3 early in the first set. However, she quickly regained composure, securing two crucial breaks and claiming the opening set. Sabalenka responded strongly, leveling the match after a competitive second set where both players were tied at three games each before Sabalenka surged ahead. The decisive third set, though, was all Rybakina; she stormed through, winning five straight games from 1-1 to seal her win. Despite her victory, the outcome did not alter Rybakina’s standing at the WTA Finals, as her previous two losses had already eliminated her from semifinal contention.
In her post-match interview, Rybakina expressed mixed emotions but was clearly pleased to conclude her season on a positive note. “It was a tough match. I’m really happy I managed to win. It’s nice to finish the year with at least one win against the world No. 1. She has all the chances to win also. Good luck to her. I’m just happy. Thank you so much, guys, for the support,” Rybakina shared. She also acknowledged her struggles throughout the competition. “Every match I played here was a bit better. It’s not easy after such a long break. Today I served really well. From both sides, we made mistakes, sometimes it was lucky for me. Overall, I think it was a good one for me. I’m really enjoying the atmosphere. Thanks again for all the support.”
Reflecting on her year, Rybakina’s 2024 season was a tale of two halves. She started strong but was soon hampered by a series of setbacks, including injuries, illnesses, and allergies. These challenges limited her appearances in the latter part of the year, with her match in Riyadh marking her first competitive outing since the US Open. Determined to return to her peak form, Rybakina has set ambitious goals for the 2025 season, targeting Grand Slam titles and the world No. 1 ranking.
“My goals are to win Slams, definitely, and the main goal is to become No. 1 one day. So, hopefully next year,” said Rybakina, who has already proven herself with a Wimbledon title and two Grand Slam finals appearances.
The addition of Goran Ivanisevic to her coaching team has further fueled Rybakina’s aspirations. Ivanisevic, who famously coached Novak Djokovic to numerous successes, joined her team just before the WTA Finals. While their collaboration is set to officially begin during the preseason, Ivanisevic’s high regard for Rybakina’s potential is already evident. “I don’t know her too well personally, but my friend Zule is her fitness coach – we worked together with Tomas Berdych – and the word around the Tour generally is that she is a great person. Game-wise, she has got a big serve, tall, strong hitter who plays aggressively; she won Wimbledon just like me. I feel I can teach her something. I mean, she is already No. 5 in the world, but I think she can win more Slams, that’s for sure,” Ivanisevic told *Tennis Majors*.
This enthusiasm was shared by former top-5 player Daniela Hantuchova, who is part of Sky Sports’ broadcast team covering the WTA Finals. “Well, super excited because I’m guessing Goran will be in Bratislava anytime soon because she lives in Bratislava and now like 10 minutes away from me. So I’m hoping I’m gonna get some extra hit. I have no idea where they’re gonna do the preseason, but I think it’s great news. We all know Goran is a great, great coach, obviously a lot of experience and Rybakina is a very aggressive player. She needs to use her serve well. Something has not really worked well for her this tournament, so I think it can only be a great addition,” Hantuchova noted.
As Rybakina gears up for 2025, she remains laser-focused on staying healthy and building a successful partnership with Ivanisevic. With her immense talent and determination, there is every reason to believe that she will be a major contender for the sport’s most prestigious titles in the coming year. Her recent victory over Sabalenka is a testament to her potential, and tennis fans around the world will undoubtedly be watching closely as she pursues her lofty goals.