Elena Rybakina came from a set down to dismantle Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-4 6-3 on Friday and make the WTA Finals title clash, where the Kazakh will face either Aryna Sabalenka or Amanda Anisimova for a shot at her first season-ending crown.

World No 1 Sabalenka meets American Anisimova next at the King Saud University Sports Arena in a rematch of their US Open final in September, which the Belarusian won in straight sets to claim her fourth Grand Slam trophy.

Pegula dialled up the intensity after an early exchange of breaks in the opening set, as the 2023 runner-up eased to a 4-2 lead when Rybakina appeared to struggle with accuracy due to a shoulder issue sustained during her warm-up a day earlier.

The 31-year-old promptly closed out the first set thanks to Rybakina's 25th unforced error, but there was a sudden shift in momentum in the next set as she found herself 1-4 behind and in danger of being dragged the distance.

Pegula recovered her rhythm and pushed hard in her bid to draw level in the set, but Rybakina responded fiercely in the 10th game to force a decider, where the pair swapped breaks again in a tight battle.

A forehand into the net from Pegula at the end of the eighth game handed the advantage back to Rybakina, who remained calm to hold in the next game and secure the victory and remain unbeaten in the season finale.

Top WTA stars, including Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, are calling on the four Grand Slams to get back to the negotiation table and reconsider their proposals regarding revenue sharing, player welfare and consultation.

"For sure it would be great if the Grand Slams wanted to talk to us, because that's how it's supposed to be and I don't really get why there's no more open conversation," Swiatek told AFP in Riyadh, where the WTA Finals are being held.

"It's not only about prize money, but also about the pension, the health plan and just having more smooth cooperation and communication in the future. So I think for sure it's a setback and for sure the players are not happy with it."

World No 1 Sabalenka added: "I think it's the time right now to sit at a table and come to a conclusion that everyone will be happy with."

The leading players of the women's and men's tours joined forces this year and sent a letter to the four majors seeking a higher percentage of tournament revenue and contributions towards tour-funded welfare programmes such as pensions.

The players would also like to be consulted when any of the Slams consider making changes that could directly affect them.

The first meeting between the players –- repped by Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, Casper Ruud, Coco Gauff, Alex de Minaur and Madison Keys –- and the majors was in Paris at Roland Garros in May.

Further discussions took place during Wimbledon, a few weeks later, with Larry Scott, a former WTA chief who is acting as an advisor for the players.

STALLED COMMUNICATION

According to people familiar with the matter and documents seen by AFP, communication stalled during the summer as the majors informed players they would have to postpone looking into their proposals until other matters have been resolved.

These include the lawsuit launched against them by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), as well as potential plans for a massive restructuring of the sport in favour of a "premium tour".

AFP understands a second letter was sent to the majors on July 30 in which the players said they did not believe plans for future tour reforms should delay action.

It is understood that only the US Tennis Association (USTA) and All England Club (AELTC) met with players' representative Scott during the US Open in September and that communication has stalled since.

Part of the proposal is for a Grand Slam Player Council to be formed, similar to the ones that exist in the WTA and ATP tours, which would allow for players to be consulted on matters affecting prize money, schedule, rules and policies.

'UNITED VOICE'

American world No 5 Jessica Pegula, an active member of the WTA Player Council, said the players were seeking changes that could benefit the entire tennis ecosystem, and not just those at the top.

"We're just trying to be a united voice," said Pegula.

"I think it's the first time we've actually been able to come together with both tours. And so that's a testament to just everybody being really open-minded and wanting to come together on making our sport better and better for the players."

Pegula noted that the Slams are "not really responding" at the moment, adding: "That's kind of our problem. So I think we'll just keep using our voices to speak out and see if we can come to the table with them. I think the ball is a little bit in their court right now."

Australian Open champion Keys said the situation was "obviously frustrating".

"I feel like we're doing it in a very above board, mature way," said the American world No 7.

"So I hope that the Grand Slams continue to have the conversations and are willing to move forward in a positive light."

Currently, about 13 to 15 per cent of Grand Slam revenue is paid out as prize money. The players have proposed a staged increase towards 22 per cent.

The total prize money for this year's US Open amounted to $90 million, a 20 per cent increase on the $75 million in 2024. Wimbledon have doubled their prize money over the past decade.

In a statement sent to AFP, an All England Club spokesperson said the organisation is "always open to having constructive discussions to achieve the best possible outcome" for the sport, as well as players and fans.

They added they have been in "regular dialogue" with the players and their representatives, and that these "conversations will continue".

Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula both advanced to the last four of the WTA Finals with straight-sets victories in Riyadh on Thursday.

The top-seeded Sabalenka ended the title defence of Coco Gauff by defeating the American 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in the closing match of the round-robin stage at King Saud University Indoor Arena.

Undefeated in the Stefanie Graf Group 💪@SabalenkaA defeats Gauff 7-6, 6-2 and books her ticket to the semifinals.#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/NCOllsRcuy

— wta (@WTA) November 6, 2025

With a perfect 3-0 record, Belarus' Sabalenka finished atop the Stefanie Graf Group, while Pegula secured the runner-up spot with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Italian eighth seed Jasmine Paolini.

Sabalenka set up a US Open final rematch with fourth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova, while Pegula will take on sixth-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in Friday's semifinals.

Leaving it all on court 😤@SabalenkaA takes the first set 7-6(5) over Gauff.#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/8PANYPuKKr

— wta (@WTA) November 6, 2025

"She's always making me work hard, always great battles against her, I enjoy fighting against her. I'm super excited to face her in the semis," said Sabalenka, who lost to Anisimova in the Wimbledon semifinals before beating her in the US Open title decider.

In what was the 12th career meeting between them, Sabalenka twice erased a one-break deficit against Gauff to force a tiebreak, and the Belarusian wrapped up the opening set in 55 minutes.

The four-time major champion leapt to a 4-0 lead in the second set and, despite a brief fightback from Gauff, who narrowed the gap to one break, was able to reestablish control over the match to move into the final four.

"I was just trying to stay aggressive, to find my rhythm, find my game. I was kind of working for the second set already, but I was able to turn it around," said Sabalenka of her opening set struggles against Gauff.

"I'm happy to make it through the round robin stage."

Earlier in the day, Pegula defeated Paolini and, in the process, avenged her recent defeat to the world No 8 in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen.

Job done ✅

Jessica Pegula is through to the last four in Riyadh with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Paolini.#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/2hsL4Q25sk

— wta (@WTA) November 6, 2025

"I'm really happy and excited to be through into the semis here. I knew I needed to win today, especially in straight sets, so that was kind of my main motivation and I'm glad I was able to play some really good tennis," said the 31-year-old American.

The former US Open finalist is competing in the WTA Finals for a fourth consecutive season and believes the calibre of the field this year has been stronger than previous ones.

Setting the pace 👏

Jessica Pegula takes the first set 6-2 against Paolini.#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/9BpRTFASQs

— wta (@WTA) November 6, 2025

"I felt like this year was so competitive. I felt like this group has been so strong all year and we've all had a time of the year where we've played such a high level," said Pegula, who has won three titles on three different surfaces this season.

"I do feel like the level has been crazy, crazy deep this year. It feels a little bit harder than maybe past years."

With Gauff and Poland's Iga Swiatek both out of the competition, a first-time WTA Finals champion will be crowned on Saturday in Riyadh.

Jessica Pegula all but secured her place in the semifinals of the season-ending WTA Finals with a breezy 6-2 6-3 win over the already-eliminated Jasmine Paolini in their final group stage match on Thursday.

World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka next plays Coco Gauff in a rematch of their French Open final, with that clash determining which two players go through to the last four from the Steffi Graf group and in what position.

 

Job done ✅

Jessica Pegula is through to the last four in Riyadh with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Paolini.#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/2hsL4Q25sk

— wta (@WTA) November 6, 2025

 

Should Gauff prevail in three sets, the percentage of games won will prove decisive, but Pegula remains in pole position and she said she would begin planning for her next opponent very soon.

"I guess it just depends on the next person that I play," Pegula said.

"We're going to be really happy with today, for the rest of the day and maybe for most of the night, and then we're going to have to switch strategies a little bit because it's a quick turnaround now.

"We'll be ready for the next opponent."

The in-form Elena Rybakina and Pegula's American compatriot Amanda Anisimova have already qualified for the semifinals from the Serena Williams group, with both looking to claim a maiden title in the tournament.

Pegula gained the upper hand, winning five out of the first six games after Paolini faltered on her serve early at the King Saud University Sports Arena in Riyadh, before the 2023 runner-up took the opening set, giving her Italian opponent no chance.

 

53 - Jessica Pegula is the first American to register 53 wins in a single season at WTA-level after turning 30 since Serena Williams (53 in 2015). Accomplish. #WTAFinalsRiyadh | @WTA @WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/L0Lg4qL5fI

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) November 6, 2025

 

Paolini withstood some powerful baseline hitting in the next set to hold in the opening game but Pegula continued to heap on the pressure and broke for the third time in the contest, paving the way for a comprehensive victory.

"Today I finally got a straight-sets win for the first time in like a few months," Pegula said.

"That always feels really good. I thought I served well, just played solid and was aggressive when I needed to be. There weren't any negative notes today."

Amanda Anisimova pulled off a stellar comeback on Wednesday to get the better of Iga Swiatek 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-2 and book her spot in the last four of the WTA Finals in Riyadh.

Making her tournament debut this week, the fourth-seeded Anisimova secured the runner-up spot in the Serena Williams Group behind Elena Rybakina, who completed round-robin play with a perfect 3-0 mark, thanks to a 6-4, 6-4 success against Russian alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Anisimova improved her three-set record this season to an impressive 15-3 by posting her 10th top-10 win of the year.

"It's so funny, my mom keeps telling me: 'You know you've won like so many three-set matches this year? You're so strong'. I was actually thinking about that. Against Iga today it was so, so tough, but honestly, I enjoyed it," said Anisimova, who reached the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open this year.

"I think I was just going for my game more today, compared to the previous days. I think I was holding back a little bit in my last few matches. I just gave it my best shot today."

The Amanda show continues! 🤩@AnisimovaAmanda battles back to defeat Swiatek 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/TJGRP722rG

— wta (@WTA) November 5, 2025

Swiatek and Anisimova split their two previous meetings, with the former triumphing in the Wimbledon final and the latter avenging that loss in the US Open quarterfinals.

On Wednesday at King Saud University Indoor Arena, the Pole saved all four break points she faced before she clinched the tiebreak to bag the opening set in 65 minutes.

The quality was incredibly high throughout and little separated the pair until Anisimova finally converted a break point in game 10 of the second set to draw level and force a decider.

The American made the first move in the final set, breaking in the fourth game on a Swiatek double-fault. Another break sealed the deal for Anisimova over the six-time Grand Slam champion in two hours and 36 minutes.

This is the first time in Swiatek's entire career that she has suffered two successive losses after winning the opening set.

"I'm so excited (to be in the semifinals), this is surreal, especially for my first time playing here," said Anisimova.

IN-FORM RYBAKINA

In a rematch of the Ningbo final from three weeks ago, won by Rybakina, the Kazakh fired eight aces and saved five of six break points en route to a 73-minute victory.

The world No 6 extended her current winning streak to nine consecutive matches –- a run than began in Ningbo on October 16 and has continued through Tokyo, from which she withdrew at the semifinal stage, and now Riyadh.

Undefeated in the Serena Williams Group! 👏@lenarybakina defeats Alexandrova in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/MYRlDwk7FI

— wta (@WTA) November 5, 2025

"Ekaterina is always a tough opponent and has a big serve. I'm happy I was able to win in straight sets. Each win gives you confidence and I'm pretty happy that for now my last matches have been great," said Rybakina, who was playing with taping on her shoulder.

Rybakina entered the match with Alexandrova having already secured her place in the semifinals as the winner of the group.

Alexandrova was brought in as a replacement for American Madison Keys, who withdrew ahead of the match due to a viral illness.

The Australian Open champion suffered two defeats in round-robin play this week in Riyadh, to Swiatek and Anisimova, and had no chance of advancing to the knockout stage.

Alexandrova is the second alternate in Riyadh. The first alternate, Russia's Mirra Andreeva, who is already competing in the doubles at this year's WTA Finals, elected not to sign in due to not being fit to play on Wednesday.

Andreeva has a doubles match on Thursday, alongside her partner and compatriot Diana Shnaider, and might still be called in for duty as an alternate if any of the four singles players is unable to play.

Thursday will also see the conclusion of the Stefanie Graf Group, with Belarusian top seed Sabalenka taking on defending champion Gauff of the USA and America's Pegula scheduled to play Jasmine Paolini, although the Italian has also reported feeling unwell.

Venus Williams will begin her 2026 season in Auckland, the tournament said this week, as the 45-year-old American continues her return to competitive tennis.

The seven-times Grand Slam winner became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she returned to competition after a 16-month layoff in July.

She became one of the biggest attractions for fans at the US Open as she and Canadian partner Leylah Fernandez reached the women's doubles quarterfinal.

Legend status 💫🏆🐐

The one and only, the game-changer, the all-time great… @Venuseswilliams will RETURN for #ASBClassic26

Where else would you be this summer? 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/wjX6urBClM

— ASB Classic (@ASB_Classic) November 4, 2025

"The one and only, the game-changer, the all-time great… @Venuseswilliams will RETURN," tournament organisers posted on the social media platform X.

The WTA 250-level tournament, widely seen as a tune-up event for the Australian Open, runs from 5 January through 11 January, with the men's competition following.

Madison Keys has withdrawn from her WTA Finals clash against Elena Rybakina on Wednesday due to a viral illness and has been replaced in the draw by Ekaterina Alexandrova.

The Australian Open champion suffered two defeats in round-robin play this week in Riyadh, to Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova, and had no chance of advancing to Friday's semifinals.

At the end of her match against Anisimova on Monday, Keys wouldn't shake her opponent's hand, indicating she was feeling unwell and didn't want to pass on the virus.

"I'm really disappointed to not be feeling my best and ultimately having to withdraw from the tournament. It's a huge accomplishment to make it this far and I'm very proud of myself for doing that and having a great year. I hope to be back next year," said Keys in a statement.

Alexandrova is the second alternate in Riyadh. The first alternate, Mirra Andreeva, who is already competing in the doubles at this year's WTA Finals, elected not to sign in due to not being fit to play on Wednesday.

Andreeva has a doubles match on Thursday, alongside her partner Diana Shnaider, and might be called in for duty as an alternate to replace Jasmine Paolini in singles, given the Italian is no longer in contention for a semifinal spot and is also feeling unwell.

Wednesday's schedule features the third and final set of round-robin matches in the Serena Williams Group, with Rybakina taking on Alexandrova and Swiatek facing off with Anisimova.

Rybakina has already secured her place in the semifinals as the group winner, while Swiatek and Anisimova will battle it out for the other ticket to the final four.

Former world No 2 Ons Jabeur said she was putting herself first for a change and would take control of her schedule after becoming depressed during a punishing run on tour.

The men's and women's circuits have come under scrutiny recently due to their packed calendars, with a host of players including Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, Daria Kasatkina, Elina Svitolina and Paula Badosa cutting their seasons short.

 

"One of the things was to ride a motorcycle, now I have my driving licence" 🏍️

Ons Jabeur discusses life outside of tennis since taking an indefinite break from the sport in July 💭 pic.twitter.com/1BcmVJ2ZEu

— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) November 4, 2025

 

Three-times Grand Slam runner-up Jabeur, who has been dubbed the 'Minister of Happiness' for her jovial personality, took a break from competitive tennis in July to focus on her health.

"The schedule is killing everyone," she told Sky Sports.

"I hope the tennis community will listen to us and lower some of the tournaments. It's piling up, for example, Doha and Dubai.

"I want to play there, but two WTA 1000 tournaments in a row? It's too much. I feel they want to add more. Also two-week WTA 1000 tournaments. I don't know whose idea it was ... none of the players like it."

Reuters has contacted the WTA for comment.

The WTA has previously said athlete welfare is its top priority and it listened to views on the calendar, both through the players' council and their representatives on the WTA board, to improve the structure in 2024 and boost compensation.

Top players are obliged to compete in all four Grand Slams, 10 WTA 1000 tournaments and six WTA 500 events under WTA rules, with the punishment for missing them ranking points penalties.

"I'm done letting the schedule dictate what I should do and what I shouldn't do," Jabeur added.

"I suffered a lot, mentally more than physically. But my body was screaming for help for a long time. I haven't listened. I think I had depression without even knowing and people call me the 'Minister of Happiness'.

"I was sad for a long time. I'm putting myself first. That's a huge step."

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams will play in January's Auckland Classic at the age of 45, tournament organisers announced on Wednesday.

Williams has been awarded a wild card for the Australian Open warm-up event from 5-11 January after only returning to the circuit in August at the US Open after a 16-month break.

"She is one of the great players in the modern era and her performances on the court speak for themselves," said tournament director Nicolas Lamperin, who added that she was in "remarkable shape and form".

"Off the court she has made an equally significant contribution to the game and to the development of female players worldwide," he said.

"Venus has had a profound influence on the evolution of women's tennis and has inspired the next generation with her unshakeable passion for the sport."

Williams, who won the Auckland Classic in 2015 when she beat Caroline Wozniacki in the final, has lifted five Wimbledon singles titles, two US Opens and an Olympic gold, in Sydney in 2000.

 

Venus Williams confirmed for Auckland, which means she also plans to play the 2026 Australian Open 😀 pic.twitter.com/HQNGKaIBJW

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) November 4, 2025

 

Lamperin said it was a "privilege" to have Williams back at the tournament.

"All sports fans should take this opportunity to watch one of the sport's all-time greats in action."

Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was also announced as a confirmed entry for the tournament.

The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on 18 January.

Coco Gauff claimed a much-needed 6-3, 6-2 victory over Jasmine Paolini to keep her WTA Finals title defence alive in Riyadh on Tuesday, while top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka battled past Jessica Pegula 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

Gauff, the American third seed had lost her opener two days prior to Pegula but was far more clinical against Paolini, whose second singles defeat of the week means she has no chance of advancing to the semifinals.

The Italian is still in contention in doubles though alongside her partner Sara Errani.

"I'm really happy with how I played today, definitely a turnaround from my first match," said Gauff, who posted her 10th top-10 win of the season.

The defending champion is on the board! 💥@CocoGauff defeats Paolini 6-3, 6-2 and secures her first group win. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/BOdeFbSsqp

— wta (@WTA) November 4, 2025

Sabalenka recovered from an early break in the deciding set to avenge her recent loss to Pegula in the Wuhan semifinals and strengthen her chances of qualifying for the final four in Riyadh.

The Belarusian world number one could only convert four of the 16 break points she created, as Pegula fought until the bitter end.

A total of 10 of Pegula's last 11 matches have gone to three sets. This was just her second three-set loss within that stretch.

"She's an incredible player, she always pushes me to that limit," said Sabalenka of her fifth-seeded opponent.

"In the third set, I just told myself to go for it. She pushed me and I love it. I love playing against her because it's always great matches, great level, great points. I was really enjoying that she was pushing me to the next level."

Eye of the tiger ! 😤@SabalenkaA battles past Pegula in a three set match 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/OwCDYLcfQQ

— wta (@WTA) November 4, 2025

ALL TO PLAY FOR

It will be all to play for in the Stefanie Graf Group on Thursday with Sabalenka, Gauff and Pegula all still in contention for semifinal tickets.

Against Pegula in her opener on Sunday, Gauff struggled with her serve, committing 17 double faults and winning just 28 percent of the points behind her second delivery.

Her performance in the first set of her second match was already a significant improvement, as she won nine of 11 points on her second serve, misfiring just twice for two double faults.

The 21-year-old leapt to a 3-0 lead and despite Paolini's attempted comeback, was able to reclaim her advantage to take the opening set in 40 minutes.

The second set was a straightforward affair as Gauff notched two breaks of serve en route to her second win in five meetings with the Italian this season.

"I think only three doubles today compared to 17 – that's a big difference," said the two-time grand slam champion.

"I think it just shows that I have the ability to serve like this and it definitely gives me confidence."

Gauff hired biomechanics coach Gavin MacMillan in late August, right before the US Open, to help fix technical issues with her serve.

She said her approach after her opening defeat was to go "back to the basics and try not to overcomplicate things".

"I think I was on the trajectory in China serving great and I think maybe trying to serve a little bit too hard in that match against Jess," Gauff said.

"So today I just tried to slow it down and let's start with that approach first and obviously if I have to go bigger, I have the ability to do that."

Elena Rybakina punched her ticket to the WTA Finals last four with an impressive 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory over second-seeded Iga Swiatek in round-robin play in Riyadh on Monday.

After cruising past Amanda Anisimova in her opener on Saturday, Rybakina claimed her second win of the week to guarantee herself the top spot in the Serena Williams Group.

Elena Rybakina firing down aces is my favourite genre of tennis.

The biggest and baddest serve in the game. 😮‍💨

pic.twitter.com/cF4DdP3UHO

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 3, 2025

Also on Monday, Anisimova rallied back from a set and a break down to triumph 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in her all-American battle with seventh-seeded Madison Keys, who has been eliminated from the competition.

"Madi was playing so well, it was quite a battle out there," said the fourth-seeded Anisimova.

"I'm happy I turned things around in the second set and kind of turned the frown upside down. It was an exciting match and it was nice to have a little bit of a fight out there."

Flipping the script ⏪@AnisimovaAmanda fights back to defeat Keys 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/7xjqmgHQcj

— wta (@WTA) November 3, 2025

Rybakina was the last of the eight singles players to qualify for this season's WTA Finals, and she did so by clinching the title in Ningbo and reaching the semifinals in Tokyo in the last two weeks of qualifying tournaments of the regular season.

She has now won each of the last eight matches she has played.

"I've been playing really well the last few weeks. I was improving each match and of course the results were following after," said the 2022 Wimbledon champion.

"It's a great opportunity to play here against the top players. I'm really excited about the next matches and hopefully I can bring the same intensity and the same game."

Rybakina went into the clash having lost all four of her previous meetings with Swiatek in 2025, and it looked like she might suffer a fifth straight defeat to the Pole when she dropped the opening set in 35 minutes.

'AGGRESSIVE'

But the Kazakh sixth seed adjusted tactically, utilising her kick serve and big forehand to maximum effect to sweep 12 of the next 13 games and complete the upset in one hour and 37 minutes.

An absolute comeback! @lenarybakina grabs her first win of the year over Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/DMclMlJwOP

— wta (@WTA) November 3, 2025

"It's always very tough to play against Iga, she brings so much intensity on the court. In the second set, I pushed myself, the serve improved and I'm happy I stepped in and played much better," said Rybakina.

"Mentally I'm happy I stayed focused no matter if I lost the first set, I was still trying to stay aggressive."

Swiatek will have to battle it out with Anisimova to secure second place in the Serena Williams Group and a place in the final four.

"I will have to watch and analyse, but I just think I wasn't that solid in getting back those fast long shots, and she was more aggressive and also more solid in finishing the rally, but I will have to watch to understand fully," said Swiatek of her defeat to Rybakina.

Making her WTA Finals debut this week, Anisimova was down a set and 1-3 before she seized the momentum by taking the next seven games en route to a one-hour 43-minute victory.

The result means Keys has no chance of advancing to the semifinals. The Australian Open champion hadn't played in two months before coming to Riyadh as she dealt with an adductor injury.

Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her quest for a maiden WTA Finals title by blasting 11 aces on her way to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Jasmine Paolini in Riyadh on Sunday.

Aryna Sabalenka's 6-3 6-1 victory over Jasmine Poalini at the WTA Finals is her 12th top 10 win in 2025 💪 pic.twitter.com/lfjadLl0Sd

— TNT Sports (@tntsports) November 2, 2025

The world No 1 was at her serving best, landing a remarkable 81 per cent of her first serves in during the 70-minute contest to shoot to the summit of the Stefanie Graf Group.

It was Sabalenka's 60th win of the season. She trails only Iga Swiatek on the WTA leaderboard for matches won in 2025.

Aryna Sabalenka off to a winning start ✅😎#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/82k66FjXdD

— Ministry of Sport (@mosgovsa_en) November 2, 2025

The 27-year-old Belarusian was handed the year-end world No 1 trophy in a special ceremony in Riyadh on Saturday.

"That felt super special, of course I'm super happy and super proud of the work that has been done and that things are working and I'm getting better and better every day," said the four-time Grand Slam champion.

"I just hope we'll keep doing what we're doing and hopefully we can stay there."

Sabalenka jumped to 3-0 lead and, despite briefly losing her break advantage, scooped the opening set in just 36 minutes.

She swatted away a pair of break points to hold on to her early lead in the second frame and cruised to the finish line, as Paolini, who is playing singles and doubles this week in Riyadh, ran out of steam.

"She's a tough opponent, we played a lot and every time it's a tough battle, doesn't matter what the score is, I always have to stay focused," said Sabalenka of the eighth-seeded Italian.

"I think I'm mostly happy with my focus today. I was calm and it felt like everything was in control."

Meanwhile, Mirra Andreeva, who lost her doubles opener alongside Diana Shnaider, said her mysterious absence from the Tokyo was a misjudgement. If she had played she could have secured the eighth and final singles spot in Riyadh this week.

Andreeva was leapfrogged by Elena Rybakina at the last hurdle in the Race to Riyadh. She missed out despite winning a pair of 1000-level tournaments and reaching two Grand Slam quarterfinals this campaign.

Rybakina came from behind in the standings late in the season, winning Ningbo and reaching the Tokyo semifinals to punch her ticket to Riyadh.

"We just had a talk with our team and we decided to skip the tournament," the 18-year-old Andreeva told AFP on Sunday.

"In the end, it turned out to be a wrong decision,"

"I guess with experience we're just learning. This is just my, not even a second full year on the WTA Tour, so I think we're just going to learn from this, we're going to get more experience from this and next time I think we're not going to make that mistake again."

Stefanie Graf Group action continues at King Saud University Indoor Arena with defending champion Coco Gauff taking on fellow American Jessica Pegula in the second singles match of the day.

Victoria Mboko won the second WTA title of her career as the 19-year-old outlasted the more experienced Cristina Bucsa in the final of the Hong Kong Open on Sunday.

Mboko overpowered the Spaniard 7-5, 6-7 (9/11), 6-2 at Victoria Park to add the Hong Kong crown to her breakout victory at her home Canadian Open in August.

Mboko, who is at a career-high 21 in the world, defeated the 2021 US Open runner-up and fellow Canadian Leylah Fernandez in three sets in Saturday's semi-finals.

Against the 27-year-old Bucsa, who is ranked 68, Mboko's big serve and clubbing ground strokes gradually wore down her opponent over nearly three hours.

"It's been an incredible week," said the teenager, who was ranked 350 at the end of last year and had her father watching in the crowd.

"Wow, what a match, I'm so tired right now. Cristina really pushed me to my limits."

Mboko broke serve to seal the first set, then began the second in the same fashion before holding for an early 3-0 lead and put the title within grasp.

But Bucsa, who was chasing a first singles title, reeled off three games in a row to level the set 3-3 and then survived a championship point in the tie break to force a decider.

Mboko recovered her poise in the final set and the teenager sealed the deal when her opponent fired a return into the net.

Also on Sunday in China, Russia's Anna Blinkova won the Jiangxi Open with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Austria's Lilli Tagger.

Iga Swiatek made a ruthless start to her WTA Finals campaign, handing Madison Keys a 6-1, 6-2 defeat on day one of the season-ending championships on Saturday.

Iga Swiatek clinches her first win of the 2025 WTA Finals ✅ #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/B9szavd2yP

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 1, 2025

The Polish second seed claimed a tour-leading 62nd victory of the year and improved to 7-2 head-to-head against Keys.

Swiatek is seeking a second WTA Finals crown in Riyadh, having lifted the trophy in Cancun two years ago.

Keys qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2016 and is one of four Americans in the eight-player singles field in Riyadh this week.

Iga Swiatek discusses her victory over Madison Keys in the opening match of the WTA Finals 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ydzzvl7Ryx

— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) November 1, 2025

"It feels great to be back in Riyadh especially that we’ve been switching places the last few years," said Swiatek, who is competing in the Finals for a fifth consecutive season.

"Honestly, I’m happy about everything; all the things that I practised, I got it together today, playing with the right balance between playing solid and aggressive.

"I put in the work in Warsaw before the tournament. That gives me for sure confidence to go forward and develop as a player."

Later at King Saud University Indoor Arena, Elena Rybakina was also in a hurry as she dished out a 6-3, 6-1 defeat to fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova in just 57 minutes.

Iga Swiatek wins a fantastic point against Keys at the WTA Finals in Riyadh.

The way she’s able to wrestle back control against such big hitting is incredible to watch.

So good, so Iga. 🇵🇱😮‍💨
pic.twitter.com/YU7We4M7AR

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 1, 2025

Rybakina was the last to qualify for the WTA Finals, and punched her ticket to Riyadh thanks to a title run in Ningbo and a march to the Tokyo semifinals in the last two weeks.

She put on a serving masterclass against Anisimova, firing seven aces and dropping just four points behind her first delivery.

“Amanda is a great player and a tough opponent so I knew I needed to serve well. I’m very happy with the way I played overall and I hope I can keep serving like this,” said the Kazakhstani world No 6.

Swiatek played a near-flawless match to kick off proceedings on Saturday, sealing the win in 61 minutes.

Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion, hadn’t played a match in over two months – since her first-round loss at the US Open – and was understandably rusty at the start, getting broken at love in the opening game of the contest.

LETSS GOOOO🔥🔥🔥🔥
Iga defeated Madison Keys 6-1 6-2💋
She was solid and consistent🫶

JAZDAAAA👑 pic.twitter.com/99HbHqbIPu

— Iga Swiatek Updates (@IgaUpdates_) November 1, 2025

Swiatek won 20 of the first 23 points to build a 5-0 advantage, painting the lines with some inch-perfect groundstrokes off both wings.

Keys finally got on the board with a much-needed hold in game six but that didn’t stop her opponent from wrapping up the first set in 23 minutes.

The duo exchanged breaks at the start of the second frame but it was Swiatek who once again grabbed the momentum, forging ahead 5-2.

Keys saved two match points on the Swiatek serve as the Pole showed signs of shakiness, but it was only a brief lapse, as Swiatek swatted away a pair of break points en route to a dominant victory.

Swiatek has shot to the top of the Serena Williams Group, with Rybakina occupying the runner-up spot ahead of Anisimova and Keys.

Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Coco Gauff headline the Stefanie Graf Group and will commence their Riyadh campaigns on Sunday against Jasmine Paolini and Jessica Pegula, respectively.

Aryna Sabalenka says learning to control her emotions has been her biggest lesson this season and she'll be looking to channel that calmness in her bid for a maiden WTA Finals crown in Riyadh.

The 27-year-old Belarusian has secured the year-end No 1 ranking for a second consecutive season, thanks to a strong 2025 campaign that saw her clinch four titles from eight finals reached.

 

Having secured her No 1 ranking for 2025, Aryna Sabalenka will become the 7th player in WTA history to hold the top spot for an entire year 📆🤩 pic.twitter.com/Z0vYNEQ6a1

— TNT Sports (@tntsports) October 30, 2025

 

After suffering heartbreaking defeats in the finals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, Sabalenka rebounded by lifting a fourth Grand Slam trophy at the US Open in September.

"There was terrible control over my emotions," said Sabalenka, looking back at her losses to Madison Keys in Melbourne and Coco Gauff in Paris.

"I think the main lesson that I learned is that no matter what, doesn't matter how I feel, how frustrated I am inside, I still have to try to stay calm and try to think clear, just try to focus on the plan that I have for the match. No matter what, stay in control."

Sabalenka landed in the Stefanie Graf group at this year's WTA Finals, alongside defending champion Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Jasmine Paolini.

The top seed says she had an "intense" and "amazing" training block in Dubai for these season-ending championships and is ready for her opener against Paolini on Sunday.

Last month, Sabalenka got a chance to practise with Novak Djokovic in Greece, where they also went on a double date with their partners.

She has had multiple conversations with Djokovic in recent years and says he helped her gain perspective both on and off the court.

"How to stay settled and how to look at everything as you're looking from the outside on the situation on the court, off the court. Just to, like, be able to sit back and look at everything," she explained.

"Kind of like it's not you looking, it's someone else looking at your situation. I think that's the best lesson that you could take from Novak."

SWIATEK READY FOR QUICK SURFACE

Meanwhile, second-seeded Iga Swiatek made sure she was one of the first players to arrive in Riyadh in order to get acclimated with the court conditions and altitude.

The reigning Wimbledon champion opens her WTA Finals account against Madison Keys on Saturday, having qualified for the event for a fifth consecutive year.

 

Aryna Sabalenka shooting for the WTA Finals photoshoot 😂

She is the moment 💅🏻

pic.twitter.com/1vOnGm238V

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 31, 2025

 

The surface in Riyadh plays relatively fast, which historically hasn't been Swiatek's forte but the Polish star has made significant improvements under her coach of one year, Wim Fissette, who has helped her win titles on grass at Wimbledon and on hard courts in Cincinnati and Seoul this year.

"I think technically for sure the way I played on faster surfaces, the way I handled sometimes faster balls that were an issue for me in previous seasons, this was something that I felt improved totally," said the 24-year-old Swiatek.

"Also the speed of the serve. I think I was in some kind of a ranking of fifth or something in aces this year. That's impossible," she added with a smile.

Half of this year's WTA Finals field is American, with Gauff leading the quartet as the No 3 seed.

Gauff is looking to become the first player to successfully defend her WTA Finals title since Serena Williams completed a three-peat in 2014.

"I'm not thinking about that. I really just want to focus on my first match ahead and take it one match at a time. I think that's what I did last year. Going to try to keep that mindset," said the two-time major champion.

The WTA Finals kick off at King Saud University Sports Arena on Saturday and will conclude on November 8.

Top seed Belinda Bencic pulled out of the Hong Kong Open quarterfinals on Friday as the Tokyo Olympic champion became the latest in a long line of players to suffer a late-season injury.

The Asian "swing" on the WTA Tour has been particularly hard hit by injuries and pullouts in recent weeks, placing renewed scrutiny on the demanding tennis schedule.

Bencic, who was ranked 421 in the world at the start of the season but has climbed to 11, was supposed to meet Spain's Cristina Bucsa in the last eight in Hong Kong.

"So disappointed to have to withdraw today from my quarterfinal match here in Hong Kong due to my thigh injury," said the 28-year-old Swiss, who won gold at the Covid-delayed Olympics in 2021.

"I’ve played a lot of tennis in the past few weeks and did everything I could to stay healthy, but it was not to be."

Bencic beat Linda Noskova last weekend to win the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and cap a remarkable comeback, a year after returning to tennis from having a baby.

Noskova reached the final in the Japanese capital after Elena Rybakina withdrew injured ahead of their semifinal.

The tournament in Hong Kong was hit even before it began with the withdrawals of former world No 1 Naomi Osaka and the 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

Both ended their seasons early through injury.

Daria Kasatkina, who has won eight WTA titles, was also initially scheduled to compete in Hong Kong but she too brought the curtain down prematurely on her season.

"The schedule is too much, mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point and sadly I am not alone," the 28-year-old, who this year switched nationality from Russia to Australia, said in early October.

The 2025 WTA Tour season will come to a climax in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the top eight women this year going head-to-head in the WTA Finals.

Coco Gauff returns to defend her title after a strong season, including a Slam win at Roland Garros.

She faces stiff competition from the star-studded field that includes, world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula.

DATE: 1-8 November

VENUE: King Saud University Indoor Arena

Follow the action live on SS Tennis and Variety 1.

THE BATTLE FOR YEAR-END NO. 1

SABALENKA’S FIRST WTA FINALS TITLE BID

World No 1 and US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has been dominant all year, but she’s never won the year-end championship. This is her chance to cap off a career-best season and solidify her No 1 status.

GAUFF’S TITLE DEFENSE

Gauff is the defending champion after winning in Riyadh last year. She also claimed the French Open and Wuhan Open in 2025. Back-to-back WTA Finals titles are rare—only four players have done it in the past 25 years.

SWIATEK’S VERSATILITY

Swiatek added Wimbledon to her résumé this season, proving she’s no longer just a clay-court specialist. A second WTA Finals crown would underline her adaptability and keep pressure on Sabalenka in the year-end No 1 race.

KEYS’ HISTORIC COMEBACK

Keys returns to the WTA Finals after nine years, the longest gap between appearances in tournament history. Her Australian Open win powered this comeback, but she’s been sidelined since the US Open with a wrist injury—fitness is a big question. [tennishead.net]

ANISIMOVA’S DEBUT

Amanda Anisimova makes her first WTA Finals appearance after a breakout season featuring four finals and a WTA 1000 title in Doha. How will she handle the pressure of this elite stage?

PEGULA’S CONSISTENCY

Pegula has quietly put together another strong season, reaching the semifinals at the US Open and finals in Wuhan. A WTA Finals title would be the biggest win of her career.

FORMAT

ROUND-ROBIN STAGE:

• Two groups of four players/teams.
• Each plays three matches.

KNOCKOUT STAGE:

• Top two from each group advance to semifinals.
• Winners meet in the final.

BIG PRIZE & PRESTIGE

Total prize money: $15.5 million.

Singles winner lifts the Billie Jean King Trophy.

With up to 1 500 ranking points on offer, this event can reshape the 2026 season outlook.

Belinda Bencic breezed past Czech sixth seed Linda Noskova 6-2 6-3 to win the Pan Pacific Open title on Sunday, erasing bitter memories of her straight-sets defeat by Agnieszka Radwanska in the title clash of the same tournament 10 years ago.

Victory earned Bencic her 10th WTA title overall and second of the year following her Abu Dhabi crown in February, returning her to the winners' circle once again after a maternity break in 2023 saw her drop outside the top 1 000 at one stage.

"I feel like Tokyo and Japan is a happy place in my career, a place where I've had good success and I just love being here," said Bencic, who won the Tokyo Olympics gold medal in 2021.

💬 "I'm very honored to be a Champion listed among all these legends."@BelindaBencic after her title win in Tokyo.#TorayPPO pic.twitter.com/3OdryK4fRL

— wta (@WTA) October 26, 2025

"I had a deja vu moment on court. I had match point on the same side of the court, went for the same serve and was telling myself the same things. I had goosebumps, it was really special. It's great to win here again."

Despite being dragged the distance in her last two matches at Tokyo's Ariake Coliseum, the world number 13 showed no signs of fatigue in the opening exchanges and secured a break to go 4-2 up before wrapping up the opening set with another.

Bencic held in a six-deuce game to go 3-2 ahead in the second set and produced another battling display on serve later to go within two games of wrapping up a memorable victory.

With the finish line in sight, Bencic raised the intensity to grab the crucial break in the eighth game and closed out the win on serve in the next game, finishing with a superb drive volley and a neat forehand winner.

'DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE'

"It was wonderful playing in front of you," Bencic said.

"The last time I won here ... it was an empty stadium - so it was a completely different atmosphere, but it was great," she said, referring to the Olympics held during the Covid pandemic.

"... I'm super happy to finally win this tournament."

2015: Runner-up in Tokyo 🥈
2025: Champion in Tokyo 🏆@BelindaBencic worth the wait 👏#TorayPPO pic.twitter.com/0ENsAwmz1k

— wta (@WTA) October 26, 2025

For Noskova, it was a disappointing end to a fortuitous week. She reached the final after Elena Rybakina's withdrawal due to injury, and earlier benefited from a walkover midway through her quarterfinal with Anna Kalinskaya.

The 20-year-old was beaten in the final of the China Open earlier this month by American Amanda Anisimova, leaving her with only one title in her career following her triumph in Monterrey last year.

"Obviously today was not my day," Noskova said.

"But congratulations to Belinda. She played incredible this week and today. I'm very happy to see you back, coming back from giving birth. It's such an achievement."

"I definitely look up to you in so many ways. It was a great experience, although not a lucky one for me to play you today."

Belinda Bencic reached her second Pan Pacific Open final a decade after her first with a hard-fought 7-6(5) 3-6 6-2 win over American Sofia Kenin on Saturday, booking a title clash with Linda Noskova, who advanced via a walkover.

Bencic will have another chance to win the trophy and erase bitter memories of her defeat by Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in the 2015 final, and the Swiss player said that she was looking forward to the challenge despite her exhaustion.

2025 Tokyo Final 🏆

Who will take home the title? 🤔

Presented by @CorpayFX pic.twitter.com/s4sZbXYkwq

— wta (@WTA) October 25, 2025

"I feel very old to hear that I'm in the final again after 10 years," Bencic said.

"It's really nice, of course. It's been a tough battle out there. I'm happy I was able to give it my all and go for it in the end. I'm really excited to play the final.

"Sometimes your mind convinces you to keep going and your body says, 'I don't want to' ... but you can find a way if you have to and you have the will to go through.

"Hopefully I can do that one more time."

Playing under the centre court roof of the Ariake Coliseum due to rain, both players stayed strong on serve in the opening 12 games before Swiss Bencic turned up the intensity in a tight tiebreak to take the opening set with a forehand winner.

Former Australian Open champion Kenin wiped the slate clean and came out firing to bag a break in the fourth game of the second set and overcame a minor wobble on her own delivery in the next game to eventually draw level in the contest.

'DIFFICULT MATCH'

Bencic, the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist, broke for a 3-1 lead in the decider after some sloppy play by Kenin, and the 28-year-old rode the momentum to wrap up the victory and stay on course for her second title of the season.

"I think it was a very difficult match," said Bencic, who won the Abu Dhabi title in February, four months after returning to the circuit from maternity leave.

"I'm really exhausted at this point. I tried to shorten the points, take more risks and tried to go for it. Thankfully, today it went my way."

Earlier, Elena Rybakina pulled out of her clash against Noskova with a back injury, a day after the Kazakh secured the last qualifying spot for next month's season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh by reaching the Tokyo semifinals.

Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from Tokyo.

Wishing you a speedy recovery, @lenarybakina! ❤️‍🩹#TorayPPO pic.twitter.com/bfukuZBI6e

— wta (@WTA) October 25, 2025

"I'm sorry I can't play today," Rybakina said.

"I've been having problems with my back this week and can't play 100 per cent. I'm disappointed that my fans will not see me today, but I hope to see you next year."

Noskova, who was beaten in the China Open final earlier this month by American Amanda Anisimova, will aim to capture only her second WTA titl,e having triumphed in Monterrey last year.

"She's definitely the in-form player," Bencic said.

"She's a great player so I'm expecting it to be another tough match tomorrow."

Elena Rybakina clinched the eighth and last spot at next month's WTA Finals when she beat Victoria Mboko 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Friday to reach the Pan Pacific semifinals in Tokyo.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion joins the elite field in Saudi Arabia after a successful run of form that also saw her win the Ningbo Open in China last week.

"It's great to qualify and play some more matches, especially against top players," said Kazakhstan's Rybakina, who will appear at the Finals for a third straight year.

"Last week I was focusing one match at a time and I knew that to qualify it's going to take a long road," said the world No 7.

"In the end everything worked out pretty well."

Rybakina will play sixth seed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic in the semifinals on Saturday.

The No 2 seed made a fast start by winning the first three games against Canada's 19-year-old Mboko on the way to sealing the first set.

The second was more closely contested with Rybakina saving a set point against the 23rd-ranked Mboko before they went to a tiebreak.

Rybakina sent down five aces during the match and hit 23 winners to Mboko's 17.

"It was a very difficult match, I'm really glad I managed to win in two sets," said the 26-year-old.

"It was very tight games but on the tiebreak I think I served well and also played some good points."

Rybakina was locked in a straight battle for the last WTA Finals spot with Russia's Mirra Andreeva.

Rybakina joins Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula and Jasmine Paolini at the November 1-8 season-ending tournament.

"I'll try to do well there at the finals for sure, but I think now I played a lot of matches and I'm a little bit tired," said Rybakina.

"I understand that it's important to manage your body and finish the season healthy."

Paolini secured the seventh spot by reaching the semifinals last week in Ningbo.