Laura Robson explains where she thinks Aryna Sabalenka went wrong in her WTA Finals defeat to Elena Rybakina
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka closed out her group-stage matches at the WTA Finals with a surprising loss to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.
The world number five defeated the world number one for the second time this year after a dominant win at the Brisbane final in January.
In their final group clash in Riyadh, the 2022 Wimbledon champion took down Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, handing the Belarusian just her second loss in her last 24 matches.
Despite the strong result, the match held little consequence for Elena Rybakina, as she was already eliminated, while Sabalenka had secured her spot as the group winner.
Rybakina entered the tournament as an underdog after an injury-filled season, having played only three matches since Wimbledon and recently recovering from a back issue that kept her out of the US Open.
In contrast, Sabalenka led their head-to-head 6-3 and has dominated the season’s final stretch, capturing three big titles over the past few months.
With Sabalenka advancing alongside Qinwen Zheng, she remains on course for a potential third final of the year against the Chinese 22-year-old after their Australian and Wuhan Open meetings.
Laura Robson diagnoses cause of Aryna Sabalenka’s shock defeat
Laura Robson weighed in on Sabalenka’s defeat – a surprising result given the world number one’s impressive recent form.
After Coco Gauff defeated Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka’s year-end top ranking was already confirmed, freeing her from the core narrative surrounding the WTA Finals.
She had looked dominant, dispatching Zheng and Jasmine Paolini in straight sets to reinforce her status as the tournament favorite.
However, in her final group match, Sabalenka fell to Rybakina, who played with noticeable ease and confidence.
Robson noted the dynamics at play in Sabalenka’s loss, explaining on Sky Sports: “It was a bit of a free match for Rybakina. She’s gone out there with absolutely nothing to play for and was looking relaxed and really striking the ball nicely.
“The third set I felt like Sabalenka lost concentration again. Just a few unforced errors that gave away the early break.”
Warning signs for Aryna Sabalenka, or just a blip?
Sabalenka’s loss to Rybakina has caused a few murmurs about her chances heading into the crucial stages.
The Kazakh, playing with freedom and no pressure, seemed intent on simply enjoying the match and testing herself against the world’s best.
While Sabalenka has generally looked solid so far, Rybakina’s aggressive, powerful style makes her one of the few players who can truly match Sabalenka’s intensity.
Meanwhile, Gauff appears to be hitting her stride, gaining confidence with each match and emerging as a serious contender.
Sabalenka will need to sharpen her focus quickly, as Gauff could pose a significant challenge, with the pair currently only able to meet in the final.
