"I feel like I always can play some good matches, but it's never stable enough" - Consistency on court holding Rybakina back as she comments on WTA Finals triumph

Elena Rybakina took the headlines at the end of the 2025 WTA season after she defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the WTA Finals to complete what was an incredible tournament of tennis. The imperious tennis portrayed in the Middle East caught her by surprise after a busy schedule just snuck her into the tournament.

It looked like, after a very inconsistent season involving numerous off court controversies, that Rybakina was not going to be in the WTA Finals for the first time since 2022. However, the Asian swing proved to be a fortunate return of luck for her and a continuous downturn in form for Mirra Andreeva, who had once been a shoe-in for the tournament. Nevertheless, a whole host of early exits saw her vulnerable to challengers behind, with Rybakina managing to squeeze in after a title in the Ningbo Open and a semi-final in the Pan Pacific Open by the skin of her teeth.

This return to her best form was continued in Riyadh. She was utterly dominant on the court, with her serve proving to be a huge weapon. The Kazakh topped a group with the likes of Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova in it, before narrowly getting the better of Jessica Pegula to set up a highly anticipated final clash against Sabalenka. It was hard to predict on paper, but Rybakina proved to have the goods on the day to fend off her rival, winning 6-3, 7-6(0).

After all the tennis played beforehand, Rybakina was surprised by this showing on court. “Well, yeah, I didn't expect much coming to Riyadh, because I have played in China a lot, and I came kind of last moment," she told the Brisbane Press. "I was just going match by match. But it brought to this kind of result, which I'm really happy. As I said, in this minimal time we had, it was end of the season, also you're tired, but we still managed to improve some things, my form, and played really well. Was really focused. So I think it's great achievement, and I just want to carry it throughout this season.”

If the 26-year-old continues to play like that, then she is bound to win more Grand Slams. This quest will start at the Australian Open, where she was a previous finalist back in 2023, losing out to Sabalenka. This was off the back of winning her maiden major title in the 2022 Wimbledon, proving her quality as a top player.

Her success has been limited since, with just one semi-final in the last 11 Grand Slams. A big part of this, she acknowledges, is 'stability' and if that she can find the right balance, then she will be firmly in the mix for the biggest titles on a more regular basis.

“Well, it's all about stability. I feel like I always can play some good matches, but it's never stable enough," she admitted. "I had some challenges also last year. So I'm happy that now I'm healthy and is just matter of time, and hopefully we can continue working like this and I will achieve my goals. It can happen as much as it's going to be soon or later on, but I definitely try to work on that. Yeah, we'll see what's gonna happen, but definitely that's my goal, and hopefully I will achieve it.”

Her first target of the new year is to overcome a stacked field in the Brisbane International, with seven of the top 10 players in the world competing. This includes the reigning champion Sabalenka, who was defeated by Rybakina in the 2024 final. A hotly tipped rematch could occur not just in Brisbane, but in the Australian Open in a couple of weeks.