Sabalenka downs Rybakina to reach WTA Finals semis

World number one Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over Elena Rybakina in a rain-disrupted group match, securing a spot in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals.

The Belarusian player, who finished second in her group behind unbeaten American Jessica Pegula, continued her pursuit of the year-end number one ranking with a hard-fought victory that spanned two days.

Sabalenka had taken the first set but faced a losing position in the second when play was suspended the previous night due to multiple rain delays.

After a break of 16 hours, both Sabalenka and Rybakina returned to the outdoor hardcourts in Cancun. Rybakina, ranked fourth and representing Kazakhstan, calmly served out the second set to level the match within minutes.

Australian Open champion Sabalenka dug deep in the opening game of the third set, surviving nine deuces and two break points to hold serve and halt Rybakina’s momentum.

She then utilized her powerful forehands to break Rybakina in the fourth game and gain an advantage in the match.

If Sabalenka emerges victorious in her semi-final match on Saturday, she will secure the year-end number one ranking.

If she fails to win, the door will open for Poland’s Iga Swiatek, who held the top ranking for 75 weeks but dropped from the position after the US Open.

Swiatek, who won both her group matches, was scheduled to face Tunisian player Ons Jabeur later in her final group match and had already secured a place in the semi-finals.

A win by Jabeur would result in the Tunisian winning the group and Swiatek advancing as the runner-up.

US Open champion Coco Gauff, who concluded group play with a rain-disrupted 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory over Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova, still had a chance to advance if Swiatek defeated Jabeur.

In windy conditions, Vondrousova dominated the early stages of the match, winning 12 of the first 13 points and breaking twice to establish a 3-0 lead. However, Gauff rallied back to level the score at 3-3.

Both players exchanged breaks over the next four games to tie at 5-5 before rain interrupted the match. When play resumed, Gauff experienced a double fault and lost a break, allowing her Czech opponent to claim the first set with an overhead smash.

Despite being broken at the start of the second set, Gauff regained control and surged to a 4-1 lead. Vondrousova mounted a comeback, equalizing the score at 5-5, and they continued to exchange breaks, leading to a tiebreaker.

Gauff’s aggressive approach paid off in the tiebreaker, and she maintained her intensity in the third set, breaking Vondrousova at love to take a 3-2 lead and ultimately securing the victory.

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