Aryna Sabalenka will face Elena Rybakina for the WTA Finals crown after a thrilling semi-final victory over Amanda Anisimova on Friday.

Sabalenka triumphed 6-3 3-6 6-3, but that scoreline does not begin to tell the full story of an epic two-hour, 13-minute encounter in Riyadh.

A drawn-out battle looked likely from the start, with eight break points being generated – and saved – within the first four games.

It was Sabalenka that finally found the first break in game five, and when the opening set ran away from Anisimova, who committed two double-faults and two unforced errors to surrender game nine, the world number one appeared to be final-bound.

However, Anisimova came roaring back out of nowhere, winning four straight games to start the second set, at one stage reeling off nine successive points.

Anisimova's powerful backhands caused Sabalenka all sorts of problems, while the US Open champion was also guilty of some rash shot selections as she was taken to a decider.

However, fatigue began to affect both players in the third set, with the drawn-out, multi-deuce games that characterised the early exchanges becoming a thing of the past.

Sabalenka finally found her range on serve, and a booming winner on the return saw her break to go 4-3 up.

Anisimova missed an opportunity to break back in the very next game, and errors crept back into the American's showing as she attempted to serve to stay in the contest, culminating in a wayward forehand on match point.

Sabalenka, who was beaten by Caroline Garcia in the 2022 showpiece, will now look to cap another successful year with her first WTA Finals crown – and her 22nd title overall.   

Next-level tennis from World No.1 @SabalenkaA | #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/ZCI3lWCzdz

— wta (@WTA) November 7, 2025

Data Debrief: Sabalenka out to underline top ranking

Players ranked number one in the world have not always had it their own way at the WTA Finals, but Sabalenka is out to change that.

She is only the third top-ranked player to reach the final at the event in the last 10 years, after Angelique Kerber in 2016 and Ashleigh Barty in 2019.

And among active players, only Venus Williams (three) has now made more showpiece matches at the WTA Finals than Sabalenka (two).

The Belarusian may have lost two grand slam finals this year, but she is only the fourth player this century to reach nine or more WTA-level finals as world number one in a single calendar year, after Martina Hingis (2000), Justine Henin (2007) and Serena Williams (2013).