**Elena Rybakina** may not be in contention for a semifinal spot at the **WTA Finals** this year, but the **Kazakhstani star** has made it clear that she won’t be a mere spectator when she faces **Aryna Sabalenka** in their final group stage match in Riyadh. Rybakina, despite her early defeats in the tournament, is determined to “make it difficult” for Sabalenka, who is looking to secure the **World No. 1** ranking for the first time in her career.
While Rybakina’s hopes of advancing in the tournament were dashed after back-to-back losses to **Jasmine Paolini** and **Zheng Qinwen**, her match against Sabalenka on Wednesday is still crucial. Rybakina, who reached the **Australian Open** final this year and won **Wimbledon** in 2022, sees this final match as an opportunity to spoil Sabalenka’s chances of finishing the year as No. 1. Sabalenka, having won **two straight WTA 1000 titles** and the **2023 Australian Open**, has put together an incredible second half of the season, but Rybakina is not about to hand her a victory.
“I’m not just going to give it to her,” Rybakina said. “She’s been playing really well this year and has a lot of confidence, so it’s definitely going to be a difficult match. But I feel like today, I played better than my last match, and I’m hoping I can push myself even more against her. She’s No. 1 now, but I want to enjoy this and make it a bit difficult for her too.”
Despite having no chance to qualify for the semis, Rybakina’s competitive spirit remains intact. Her motivation is clear: **she wants to make it hard for Sabalenka** and ensure that the Belarusian has to fight for her world No. 1 position.
### Sabalenka’s Road to No. 1
**Aryna Sabalenka** is in a prime position to finish 2024 as the **World No. 1**, a ranking she has long coveted. Having already secured a **semifinal spot** at the **WTA Finals**, Sabalenka’s goal is to finish her group stage with a perfect record of 3-0, which would leave **Iga Świątek** with no chance of overtaking her at the top of the rankings.
To achieve this, Sabalenka must first overcome Rybakina, who, despite her struggles in Riyadh, has the potential to disrupt Sabalenka’s plans. If Sabalenka wins and finishes the Round Robin stage with a 3-0 record, she will be guaranteed the **No. 1 ranking** by the end of the season, an achievement that would mark the culmination of her incredible rise in the tennis world.
For Sabalenka, there is plenty of pressure riding on this match. As she explained after her earlier victories in the tournament, securing the **World No. 1** position is one of her primary motivations at this stage in the season.
“It’s definitely tricky, but you know, we’re chasing No. 1,” Sabalenka acknowledged. “So I’m just going to keep that in mind, and I want to go for all of the points possible. That’s my motivation right now, to keep advancing.” With **Sinner** and **Alcaraz** also performing strongly in men’s tennis, becoming the **first Belarusian to finish the year at No. 1** is a massive achievement that would solidify Sabalenka’s status among the sport’s elite players.
### The Rivalry Between Rybakina and Sabalenka
As Rybakina and Sabalenka prepare to face off once again, it’s worth looking at their **head-to-head record**, which has seen a shift over the past few seasons. Sabalenka leads the series 6-3, but their encounters have become more competitive since the start of 2023, when Rybakina emerged as one of the top players in the world.
The two players have faced off six times in 2023, with both having taken three victories. One of Rybakina’s most notable wins came earlier this year at the **Brisbane International**, where she dominated Sabalenka in a 6-0, 6-3 final. However, Sabalenka got her revenge in the **Madrid Open** semifinal, where she fought back from a set down to win in three sets after Rybakina failed to serve out the match.
While the head-to-head is relatively balanced, Sabalenka is undoubtedly the favorite heading into this encounter, given her current form and the stakes of the match. With **22 wins in her last 23 matches**, Sabalenka has been virtually unbeatable in recent months, a remarkable feat that has helped propel her to the top of the rankings. Rybakina, on the other hand, is playing in her first tournament in two months after recovering from injury, and she has looked a bit rusty in her matches so far.
### Rybakina Reflects on Her Loss to Zheng
Rybakina’s loss to **Zheng Qinwen** was particularly disappointing, as it dashed her hopes of advancing to the semifinal. The match was a **grueling three-set affair**, with Rybakina pushing through to force a decider after being down a set and a break in the second. However, she couldn’t sustain her level in the third set, losing 6-1.
“Yeah, today was a longer match, and I think I had some chances in the first set,” Rybakina reflected after the match. “I was always down, but then in the tiebreak, a couple of better points could have made it easier. In the third set, I was very tired and didn’t feel the greatest physically, but overall, it was a good match for me.”
Despite the defeat, Rybakina remained positive about her performance, understanding that it was her first tournament back after a break. Her physicality was clearly tested in the match, but she took the loss in stride, knowing that she was in the process of getting back to her best.
Zheng, who secured her **first-ever win over Rybakina**, was pleased with the victory, though she admitted that it could have been over sooner. “I was the one to make the first break, but then I let her back into the match,” she said. “In the third set, I told myself to stay focused, and finally, I started playing my tennis again.”
### Looking Ahead: The Final Showdown
With Rybakina’s hopes of progressing to the **semifinals** already dashed, the focus will shift to her **final group stage match** against **Sabalenka**. While Rybakina won’t have a chance to advance, the outcome of the match could still have major implications for Sabalenka, who is gunning for the **No. 1 spot**.
Rybakina may have lost her opening matches in Riyadh, but with her competitive nature and the motivation to make life difficult for Sabalenka, this encounter promises to be another exciting chapter in their growing rivalry. Sabalenka may have the edge in recent form, but with Rybakina back in action and looking to spoil her opponent’s dreams of finishing the year as the top-ranked player, the match is sure to be a thrilling contest.