Analysis of the WTA Finals 2025 final between Sabalenka and Rybakina: Power hitters in action

We dissect all the tactical keys that could determine the outcome of the WTA Finals 2025 grand final between Sabalenka and Rybakina.

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 8 Nov 2025 | 07.52
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Aryna Sabalenka, at WTA Finals 2025, final analysis. Photo: gettyimages.
Aryna Sabalenka, at WTA Finals 2025, final analysis. Photo: gettyimages.

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The last match of the season on the WTA circuit guarantees strong emotions. Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will face each other in an exciting duel for the title at the WTA Finals 2025 held in Riyadh. Two women with similar styles and very different personalities on and off the court, but with the same goal. We analyze what can be expected from the clash.

A glorious year of tennis deserves an unforgettable end. Aryna Sabalenka eagerly seeks to continue adding to her extensive list of achievements, and the title at the WTA Finals 2025 is a top priority for her. To achieve it, she will need her best tennis against a Elena Rybakina who has been on a clear upward trend in recent weeks, arriving at the competition brimming with confidence. Two natural power hitters who make finding the winning shot their mantra and who will battle to seize the initiative on every point.

The WTA Finals 2025 final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina

There are increasingly strong signs that Aryna Sabalenka is shaping a legendary career. The Belarusian continues to improve as a tennis player, refine her competitive hunger, extract truly positive aspects from herself, make her game more complete and unpredictable, and above all, display astonishing consistency. Once again in a final of a major competition, she has demonstrated her resilience this week in Riyadh, struggling against Pegula and Anisimova but finding ways to prevail.

Rybakina, WTA Finals 2025. Photo: gettyimages

On the other hand, Elena Rybakina sneaked into this event without displaying the forcefulness and brilliance that many demand consistently in her game. The latter part of the season has been very positive for the Kazakh, and in Riyadh, her shots have once again sliced through the air with surgical precision, wresting control from her opponents. Beating Anisimova and Swiatek with such conviction provided a tremendous morale boost, and her ability to endure against Pegula despite shoulder discomfort demonstrates extreme competitive determination.

Tactical keys to the WTA Finals 2025 final between Sabalenka and Rybakina

The best version of both players shines when they manage to take the lead and set the pace of the game. Service will be crucial for both, requiring them to seek short shots following the serve+1 strategy and taking advantage of any doubts from the server to step into the court and take risks on their returns. Depth and power, rather than angles, must be the way they seek to break free from potential neutral and rapid exchanges that may occur from positions of equality.

One of the significant advantages Sabalenka holds is slightly more reliability in her service, greater drive power, and superior leg strength when it comes to rallying from the baseline. On the other hand, Rybakina should aim for backhand-to-backhand exchanges, a shot she handles excellently, and try to overwhelm with parallel shots. Aryna's greater experience in finals of this caliber could be an asset for her, although her favoritism could be a double-edged sword, as seen this year in Melbourne and Paris.

Sabalenka and Rybakina at WTA Finals 2025. Photo: gettyimages

Head-to-head between Sabalenka and Rybakina

This matchup is already a classic in modern women's tennis, with both players facing each other a total of 13 times. The balance favors Sabalenka at 8-5, with three encounters this year resulting in two victories for the Belarusian. Rybakina's triumph came in Cincinnati, while everything was resolved by fine margins on the grass in Berlin. They met at the 2023 WTA Finals, with Sabalenka emerging victorious.

Forecasts for the WTA Finals 2025 final

Sabalenka's competitive intelligence and experience can be a fundamental factor in a final like this, as well as her greater variety and consistency in her game. If Rybakina is on fire, she is almost unstoppable, but the Belarusian has many weapons to prevent her opponent from dictating the match's rhythm. Moreover, the right shoulder discomfort that plagues the Kazakh could end up being decisive.

- Victory for Aryna Sabalenka in two sets

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Análisis de la final de WTA Finals 2025 entre Sabalenka y Rybakina: cañoneras al poder