VIDEO SHOWS: WTA FINALS HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDING: JESSICA PEGULA V ELENA RYBAKINA ARYNA SABALENKA V AMANDA ANISIMOVA RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (NOVEMBER 7, 2025) (WTA/DAZN - See restrictions) ELENA RYBAKINA v JESSICA PEGULA 1. PLAYERS AT NET FOR THE COIN TOSS FIRST SET 2. RYBAKINA LOSES RALLY HITTING BALL LONG AND PEGULA WINS BREAK POINT 3. RYBAKINA HITS INTO A NET TO LOSE ANOTHER BREAK POINT IN FIRST SET 4. RYBAKINA HITS NET AND PEGULA WINS FIRST SET SECOND SET 5. RYBAKINA HITS FOREHAND WINNER FROM CENTRE FOR COURT TO WIN A POINT 6. RYBAKINA WINS GAME WITH VOLLEY AT THE NET TO TAKE 5-2 LEAD 7. RYBAKINA HITS DISGUISED BACKHAND CROSSCOURT WINNER TO WIN SECOND SET THIRD SET 8. RYBAKINA HITS BACKHAND WINNER FROM BACK OF THE COURT WITH SCORE AT 4-3 9. MATCH POINT - PEGULA'S RETURN LANDS WIDE AS RYBAKINA WINS MATCH 4-6 6-4 6-3 10. RYBAKINA CELEBRATES/ PLAYERS SHAKE HANDS ARYNA SABALENKA V AMANDA ANISIMOVA 11. PLAYERS AT NET FOR COIN TOSS FIRST SET 12. SABALENKA WINNING POINT WITH FOREHAND 13. SABALENKA WINNING POINT WTH RUNNING FOREHAND 14. SABALENKA WINNING POINT AND SET WITH AS ANISIMOVA HITS SHOT LONG SECOND SET 15. ANISIMOVA WINNING POINT WITH FOREHAND WINNER THIRD SET 16. ANISIMOVA WINNING POINT WITH BACKHAND WINNER 17. SABALENKA WINNING POINT ON RETURN OF SERVE WITH BACKHAND 18. SABALENKA WINNING POINT WITH PASSING SHOT 19. MATCH POINT - SABALENKA WINNING POINT AND MATCH AS ANISIMOVA HITS FOREHAND WIDE SABALENKA WINS 6-3 3-6 6-3 20. SABALENKA CELEBRATES / PLAYERS EMBRACE AT NET STORY: World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame Amanda Anisimova 6-3 3-6 6-3 in a gladiatorial battle between big-hitters on Friday to book a WTA Finals title showdown with Elena Rybakina for a shot at her first season-ending crown. After grueling early exchanges, the rematch of September's U.S. Open final swung in favour of Sabalenka as she surged to a 5-3 lead and then turned up the aggression from the baseline to take the opening set in an hour. The New York champion, who saved five breakpoints earlier, found herself on the back foot in the second set when Anisimova reeled off the opening four games and it was a matter of time until the match went into a decider. Sabalenka hit a flurry of aces to hold for 3-3 in the third set and grabbed the decisive break in the next game with a huge backhand winner, before surviving some nervy moments at the end to see off her American opponent. Rybakina earlier came from a set down to dismantle Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-4 6-3, reaching the final with a perfect record at the King Saud University Sports Arena and taking another step towards her maiden title in the tournament. Pegula dialed up the intensity after an early exchange of breaks in the first set, as the 2023 runner-up cruised 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. "It was such a tough battle ... I'm glad I managed to find my way in the second and win it in a three-set battle," Rybakina said, adding that each of her 15 aces came at the right time. "My serve helped me when I needed it. I was trying to stay focused on each point when we had some tough rallies. In the end I managed to push myself a bit more." The 31-year-old Pegula secured the opening stanza 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 strongly 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 held in the next game and sealed the victory that maintained her unbeaten run. (Production: Oliver Regan) (The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)
