WTA Finals, Elena Rybakina beats Jessica Pegula, reaches final: Stats
What's the story
Elena Rybakina, the sixth seed, has defeated fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula in a thrilling three-set match at the WTA Finals semi-finals in Riyadh. The match lasted over two hours and saw Rybakina hit 15 aces and break Pegula's serve five times. Rybakina won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. The win takes her winning streak to 10 matches, including four against top 10 players. Here are further details and stats.
Path to victory
Rybakina comes from behind to take 1st set
Rybakina's path to the final was not easy. She had a 2-3 head-to-head record against Pegula, with their last match in 2023 ending in a straight-sets win for Rybakina at the Billie Jean King Cup quarterfinals. In the semi-finals, Pegula broke Rybakina early but couldn't hold on to her lead. The Kazakhstani player broke back in the fifth game and finished the set with five aces despite making some errors.
Set 2
Pegula falters in decisive moments as Rybakina takes 2nd set
In the second set, Rybakina took an early lead but Pegula fought back to level the match. However, Rybakina held her nerve and converted her second set point with a backhand into the open court. The decisive break came in the sixth game of the final set as Rybakina took a 4-2 lead that held up till match end after two hours and five minutes of play.
Final preparations
Rybakina eyes maiden WTA Finals title
Rybakina will now face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or fourth seed Amanda Anisimova in the final. She is looking forward to the match, as the location is practically a home game for her, given her residence in Dubai. The ace-friendly indoor court at King Saud University also suits her playing style.
Opta stats
Rybakina makes these records
Rybakina has won the most consecutive matches against top-10 opponents in 2025 (six between Ningbo and the WTA Finals), equalling Sabalenka's streak between Indian Wells and Madrid. She is also the first player to defeat three top-5 (Swiatek and Anisimova in RR and Pegula in SF) at a single WTA event since Iga Swiatek and Pegula at the WTA Finals 2023 in Cancun. Rybakina is the third player representing an Asian country to reach the final at the WTA Finals after Li Na (2013) and Qinwen Zheng (2024).
Information
A look at the match stats
Rybakina doled out 15 aces compared to Pegula's one. However, the latter committed just one double fault with Rybakina committing 5. Rybakina fired 36 winners with Pegula firing 9. In terms of unforced errors, Rybakina made 67 to Pegula's 36.
Twitter Post
Display!
An impressive display from Rybakina đź‘Ź#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/b37n4j0N7F
— wta (@WTA) November 7, 2025