Elena Rybakina finished the group stage of the WTA Finals with a 100% record after defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets.

Alexandrova was a late replacement for Madison Keys, who pulled out with an illness, but Rybakina won 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 14 minutes despite the change in opponent.

Rybakina endured a sluggish start to the first set, having to save three break points in two of her opening three service games.

However, the momentum swung in her favour after she broke Alexandrova's serve in the ninth game before serving to love to take the set.

Rybakina then raced to a 5-2 lead in the second, converting two of her three break opportunities, before Alexandrova threw a spanner in the works with a break of her own.

But Rybakina managed to save two further break points to stave off the comeback, and went on to clinch victory with her second match point.

Undefeated in the Serena Williams Group! @lenarybakina defeats Alexandrova in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/MYRlDwk7FI

— wta (@WTA) November 5, 2025

Data Debrief: Rybakina relentless in Riyadh

Since the event's inauguration in 1972, Rybakina is just the fourth player representing an Asian country to reach the semi-final at the WTA Finals, after Kimiko Date (1994), Li Na (2013) and Qinwen Zheng (2024).

Rybakina (six) is also the lowest seed to win all three of her Round Robin matches at the WTA Finals since eventual finalist Elina Svitolina (eight) in 2019.

Since the start of the 2020 season, only two players have claimed more match wins at WTA level than Rybakina (249) – Iga Swiatek (313) and Aryna Sabalenka (279).

And in a good omen for Rybakina – 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) is the only exception.