“Maybe I went a little too much on Anton”: Aryna Sabalenka explains fiery exchange with coach during dramatic WTA Finals win

Aryna Sabalenka’s intensity was on full display at the WTA Finals after her dramatic three-set victory over Jessica Pegula, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. The World No.1 didn’t just overcome a break deficit in the decider — she also fought through an emotional rollercoaster with her coach, Anton Dubrov. A fiery exchange in the third set saw Dubrov leave the court, a moment Sabalenka later described as the spark that helped her turn things around.

The Belarusian, already guaranteed to finish the year as World No.1, showed once again why her emotional energy often fuels her best tennis. “I was so frustrated inside of me, and I just tried to let it go. Probably I went too far,” she admitted with a smile. “But honestly, I think it was the right move from him to just let me be on my own.” The result kept her unbeaten in Riyadh after two group-stage wins.

After dispatching Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-1 in her opening match, Sabalenka now leads her group and only needs to win one set in her final round-robin clash against Coco Gauff to secure a semifinal spot. Even with a loss, the odds of advancing remain high. But for the reigning US Open champion, her focus seems more on improving her level than crunching the numbers. “I’ll try to play a little bit cleaner tennis on my serve,” she said.

This season has been another statement year for the 27-year-old, who boasts a 61–11 record and four titles, including her fourth Grand Slam crown at the 2025 US Open. She advanced at least to semifinals in the last three editions of the tournament. Her best result came in 2022, when she finished runner-up to Caroline Garcia. Now, her hunger to lift the year-end title is as strong as ever.

Sabalenka’s duel with Pegula was one of the most gripping encounters of the tournament so far — a high-quality exchange of power and precision. “It was an exchange of unreal tennis from both,” Sabalenka said. “In the first set I don’t know what I did, honestly — some of the points were just wow.” Yet Pegula found her rhythm in the second set, turning the match into a tense tug of war that demanded Sabalenka’s best mental resolve.

When Pegula broke early in the final set, the pressure mounted. That’s when Sabalenka’s emotions boiled over, leading to her outburst toward Dubrov. “I think he really upset me — I was really stressed and angry at him — and that really helped me to pull out such tennis,” she admitted. Ironically, what looked like a meltdown became a turning point, reigniting her trademark ferocity from the baseline.

As much as Sabalenka’s power defines her, her emotional honesty makes her one of the most compelling players on tour. She often wears her heart on her sleeve, unfiltered but self-aware. “We don’t care about the coaches right now — we care about the player. The player is always right,” she joked during the on-court chat, a line that perfectly captured her blend of humour and competitiveness.

With her semifinal place within reach, Sabalenka now aims to maintain her dominance in the Steffi Graf Group and chase the only major trophy missing from her recent collection. “I look at this tournament as if I need to win five matches to hold that trophy,” she said. If she channels the same mix of grit and emotional energy that saw her past Pegula, few will doubt her ability to finally lift the WTA Finals crown.