Sabalenka outlasts Anisimova and schedules a matchup with Rybakina for the WTA Finals championship
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-3 3-6 6-3 in a big-hitter gladiatorial match on Friday to secure a title matchup with Elena Rybakina in the WTA Finals. Both players are vying for their first Billie Jean King trophy.
In the match on Saturday, the two tournament winners will square off, with 2022 finalist Sabalenka having the advantage due to her 8-5 head-to-head record versus Rybakina, which includes a victory in their meeting in the Australian Open final two years prior.
“It’s going to be another powerful match,” Sabalenka predicted as she anticipated her ninth final of the year.
“I feel like today was great preparation for Elena and I’m looking forward to leaving everything I have (on court) in the last match of the season and fight for this beautiful trophy.”
The repeat of the September U.S. Open final went in Sabalenka’s favor after demanding early exchanges with Anisimova. She jumped out to a 5-3 lead and increased her aggression from the baseline to win the first set in an hour.
Anisimova dominated the first four games, putting the New York champion, who had earlier survived five breakpoints, behind the curve in the second set. It was just a matter of time until the match went to a decider.
After a series of aces helped her hold for 3-3 in the third set, Sabalenka won the crucial break with a powerful backhand winner in the following game, and she overcame some nerve-wracking moments in the end to defeat her American opponent.
“She’s always pushing me to play my best tennis and honestly I wouldn’t have cared if I lost this match,” Sabalenka commented.
“We both earned our spot in the final because of our fantastic game. That battle was amazing. I’m ecstatic about winning. “She should be proud of her season,” I told Amanda.
The ideal recording
Rybakina had earlier overcome a set down to defeat Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-4 6-3, advancing to the King Saud University Sports Arena final with a spotless record.
Following a quick exchange of breaks in the opening set, Pegula ramped up the ante. The 2023 runner-up easily took a 4-2 lead as Rybakina seemed to be having trouble with accuracy because of a shoulder injury she had acquired the day before during her warm-up.
What a difficult battle it was… Rybakina stated, “I’m happy I was able to navigate the second set and win it in a three-set battle,” and she added that all 15 of her aces came at the appropriate moment.
“I needed my serve’s assistance. I tried to keep my attention on every point during some difficult rallies. I was able to exert a little more effort in the end.
Rybakina’s 25th unforced error gave the 31-year-old Pegula the lead in the first stanza, but an unexpected change in momentum in the following set left her trailing 1-4 and at risk of being dragged the distance.
In an effort to tie the set, Pegula got back into her rhythm and put up a spirited fight, but Rybakina rallied in the tenth game to force a deciding in which the two players again traded breaks in a close contest.
After Pegula’s forehand into the net at the end of the ninth game, Rybakina regained the lead and won the following game, extending her winning streak.
