Aryna Sabalenka First Player To Qualify For 2025 WTA Finals In Riyadh

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has been rewarded for her superb results in the opening few months of 2025 by booking the first spot at the 2025 WTA Finals.

Coco Gauff won last year's WTA Finals. The American defeated Qinwen Zheng in one of the best matches of the season, taking it on a deciding set tiebreak after a brutal battle that lasted over three hours.

Gauff's run to the title included a semifinal victory against Sabalenka. It was a tough moment for the Belarusian, since she entered the tournament as a significant favorite after dominating on hard courts in 2024.

Sabalenka won last year's Australian Open and US Open titles. She overcame Zheng in Melbourne before winning a high-quality encounter with Jessica Pegula at Flushing Meadows to triumph there for the first time.

The three-time Grand Slam champion has been the most consistent player in 2025, although there have also been some heartbreaking moments. Sabalenka's season started by claiming the Brisbane International title.

She had an opportunity to win a third consecutive Australian Open a few weeks later. An inspired Madison Keys denied her that in the final, triumphing 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to secure her maiden Grand Slam title.

Sabalenka had another tough loss against Mirra Andreeva in the 2025 Indian Wells Open final. That was followed by the teenager's iconic speech in the trophy ceremony, when she thanked herself for the success.

The WTA world No. 1 avoided a third consecutive final defeat at the 2025 Miami Open against Jessica Pegula. Like the US Open, Pegula did not play badly, but could not raise her level enough to win.

Sabalenka reached a fourth final at the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Unfortunately, she finished as the runner-up for a fourth time after being outplayed by Jelena Ostapenko in a 4-6, 1-6 defeat.

The 2024 US Open winner was more successful at the 2025 Madrid Open, her favorite clay-court tournament. Sabalenka won a third title in Spain by beating Gauff 6-3, 7-6 after being more clinical in the important moments.

Losing the Australian Open final to Keys was tough, but Sabalenka's most brutal defeat of 2025 undoubtedly came in her maiden Roland Garros final. She took the opening set against Gauff on a tiebreak.

However, it all went wrong for the Belarusian after that. Gauff dealt with the windy conditions better and also played a smarter tactical match to win 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 and beat Sabalenka in a Grand Slam final from a set down for the second time.

Sabalenka received criticism for her words about Gauff afterward. She claimed Iga Swiatek would have beaten her and that the result was not due to the American's good play. The Belarusian subsequently reached out to Gauff and apologized.

Although those final losses were tough, reaching seven finals by July is a phenomenal achievement. She thoroughly deserves to qualify for the 2025 WTA Finals, and her year could get even better if she wins her semifinal at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships against Amanda Anisimova.