Sabalenka overcomes Anisimova and lines up Rybakina in title match at WTA Finals

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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after winning a point against Amanda Anisimova of the United States during their women's singles semifinal match at the WTA tennis finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan plays a forehand return to Jessica Pegula of the United States during their women's singles semifinal match at the WTA tennis finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) — Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after winning a point against Amanda Anisimova of the United States during their women's singles semifinal match at the WTA tennis finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

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9:33 AM on Friday, November 7

The Associated Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka reached the title match at the WTA Finals for the first time in three years after overcoming Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the semifinals on Friday.

Sabalenka will play first-time finalist Elena Rybakina on Saturday.

No. 6 Rybakina beat No. 5 Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 on the back of 15 aces.

Sabalenka was pushed to the brink by No. 4 Anisimova, who matched Sabalenka's power and aggression for more than two hours in a rematch of the U.S. Open final.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion from Kazakhstan, has won all four of her matches this week, and clinched the win over Pegula on her first match point.

“It was not easy to come back but I'm glad I managed to find my way in the second set and win it in this three-sets battle,” Rybakina said. “The serve, when I needed it, helped me.”

Pegula reached the final in 2023.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis