Rybakina Claims Last Spot at WTA Finals

2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina completed her mad dash to Riyadh on Friday in Tokyo.

The seventh-ranked Kazakh booked her spot in the eight-player field thanks to her quarterfinal victory over Canada’s Victoria Mboko (6-3 7-6(4)) at the Toray Pan Pacific Open, which propelled her past Mirra Andreeva in the standings.

Rybakina, who won the title in Ningbo last week, stretches her current winning streak to six. She needed 92-minutes to avenge a three-set loss at the hands of the Canadian teen earlier this summer.

Rybakina joins Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys and Jasmine Paolini in the eight player WTA Finals field.

It will be Rybakina’s third consecutive WTA Finals appearance. She has won two matches and lost four, and yet to reach the semifinals at the tour’s season-ending championships.

Mirra Andreeva and Ekaterina Alexandrova will serve as the first and second alternates, respectively.

“The world-class singles field for the WTA Finals is now set and I can’t wait to welcome this inspiring group of athletes to Riyadh,” said WTA Finals Tournament Director Garbiñe Muguruza. “This season we have seen eight different champions across WTA 1000 tournaments and the Grand Slams showing the incredible depth and drama of the WTA Tour, with the perfect curtain-call now ready to take place at the WTA Finals.”

Rybakina will face Linda Noskova in the semifinals in Tokyo. Belinda Bencic and Sofia Kenin will square off in the other semifinal.