Elena Rybakina’s journey through the WTA Finals has been spotless—extremely spotless so far. Three matches, three wins, and a semifinal ticket punched without a hitch. She defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova in her last group stage match by 6-4, 6-4. This was her ninth consecutive win of the season, and as things stand, Rybakina looks a clear favorite to not only reach the final but also win the title in Riyadh!

Since 2003, five of the previous six players seeded 6-8 to win all three of their Round Robin matches at the WTA Finals went on to at least reach the final (Caroline Wozniacki - 2014, being the only exception). This was Rybakina’s ninth Top 10 of this season, and she looks quite unstoppable at the moment. After seeing her impressive three-set victory over Iga Swiatek in the previous match, former WTA pro Laura Robson spoke about how coaches across the world share a similar thought about Rybakina’s potential to win multiple Slams. She even wished for her to have a healthy season in 2026. And now, again, Robson shared an interesting take on the Kazakh star.

While sharing her thoughts about Elena Rybakina’s match against Alexandrova, Robson said, “I think we can see how dangerous Alexandrova can be with that performance, but she just wasn’t consistent enough to deal with how sharp Rybakina was; having played two games already, she was serving really well.” Currently ranked sixth in the world, Rybakina’s serve has been the talk of the town this season. She has already hit around 468 aces this season, and seeing her lethal weapon, one of the best servers of the game, Andy Roddick, even said, “When she is in full flight, I think she has the best serve in the world.”

However, Robson wasn’t too pleased, seeing a few cheap giveaways in the later stages of the match. She said, “It was so surprising to see her throw in a few double faults towards the end; it was out of character for her, and she will want to quickly move on from that. Certainly, she’s now a very dangerous player through to the semifinals.”

Elena Rybakina hit 8 aces in that match and committed 2 double faults compared to Ekaterina Alexandrova’s 6 and 3, respectively. Coming from a player known for her crisp serving and calm demeanor, those late-match double faults were indeed out of place—a rare crack in Rybakina’s usually unshakable armor. But perhaps that’s what makes her run all the more human and compelling. 

Even Tim Henman showered praise on Rybakina for her impressive performance in the previous match against Alexandrova. In the same interview with Sky Sports Tennis, he said, “She looks confident; her ball-striking looked amazing from start to finish; there was no panic, and it was emphatic from start to finish.” 

She can face Coco Gauff or Aryna Sabalenka, or even Jessica Pegula in the semis. Her opponent is yet to be decided. But with her name now etched among the semifinalists, the question isn’t how far Rybakina can go, but whether she’s destined to extend that historical trend. What did Elena Rybakina say after securing her spot in the SF, though?

Elena Rybakina looks forward to extending her dream run at the WTA Finals

The desert air in Riyadh carries a quiet tension. The lights, the roar, and the promise of history—Elena Rybakina is living in the center of it all. The Kazakh star has been unstoppable this week, sweeping past every opponent with the calm precision that has become her trademark. Who could’ve predicted her to be in such a dominating form at the 2025 WTA Finals?

Well, Luke Saville did! Before the start of the WTA Finals, he was the one who said, “I think she was out before winning that last event; she’s really come into contention. I mean, she’s dangerous indoors; it will be very interesting to see.”

Now, as Elena Rybakina stands on the brink of the semifinals, her focus is sharper than ever: to keep her stunning winning streak alive. Her WTA Finals campaign has been nothing short of perfection so far. 

While sharing her thoughts about her incredible run in her post-match interview, Rybakina said, “Every match I play, I want to win. Each win gives you confidence, so I’m really happy with that for now. The last few matches have been great, and hopefully I can continue that.”

Speaking about her opponent, Ekaterina Alexandrova, who came as a replacement for Madison Keys (who withdrew hours before the match due to a viral illness), Rybakina said, “Ekaterina is always a tough opponent. She has a big serve, and especially in the beginning, it was difficult to return, so I’m pretty happy that I managed to win in two sets in the end.”

Elena Rybakina has dropped just one set so far in the entire tournament. Do you think she can put up a similar dominating performance in the semis? Share your thoughts in the comment box.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta