Riyadh, Nov 8 (NationPress) World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over Amanda Anisimova with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in an intense semifinal battle, securing her spot in the WTA Finals title match against Elena Rybakina. Both athletes are on the hunt for their first Bille Jean King Trophy.

The eagerly awaited final on Saturday will showcase the tournament's two undefeated players. Sabalenka, who was the runner-up last year, holds a slight edge as she leads Rybakina 8-5 in their head-to-head encounters, including a win in the 2023 Australian Open final.

"It's going to be another powerful match," Sabalenka remarked after her match. "I believe today was excellent preparation for Elena, and I'm eager to leave everything on the court in this final match of the season and fight for this beautiful trophy."

Following a tense start against Amanda Anisimova, the rematch of September’s US Open final began to shift in Sabalenka’s favor when she broke serve to lead 5-3, showcasing her renowned power from the baseline to clinch the first set after an hour.

The New York champion, who previously saved five break points, struggled early in the second set as Anisimova surged to a 4-0 advantage, indicating a likely third set.

In the final set, Sabalenka regained her momentum, blasting a series of aces to tie at 3-3 before executing a stunning backhand to secure a pivotal break. Despite facing late pressure, the top seed stood firm to finish the match and secure her place in the final.

"She's always pushing me to play my best tennis, and honestly, I wouldn’t have minded losing this match," Sabalenka said. "We played an incredible match, and both of us deserved a spot in the final. It was an amazing contest. I'm thrilled to have won and told Amanda she should be proud of her season."

Earlier, Rybakina came from a set down to defeat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, continuing her unbeaten streak and moving on to the WTA Finals championship match.

Pegula, last year’s finalist, elevated her performance after an early exchange of breaks in the first set, taking a 4-2 lead while Rybakina struggled with inconsistency and a shoulder issue sustained during her warm-up the previous day.