Hours after falling just short in the WTA Finals championship match, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka reminded the tennis world why she’s reigned supreme all season—with a raw, unfiltered social media post that’s already going viral.
“Winning isn’t luck. It’s work 🥵🔥♥️,”
The 27-year-old Belarusian came agonizingly close to capping her dominant 2025 campaign with the elusive Billie Jean King Trophy. In a high-octane final against Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka fought tooth and nail but ultimately fell 6-3, 7-6(0) in one hour and 42 minutes of blistering baseline tennis.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, was flawless on serve—firing 13 aces, winning 73% of first-serve points, and never facing a break point. The Kazakh dominated the second-set tiebreak 7-0, sealing the biggest title of her career and a record $5.2 million paycheck while remaining undefeated all week.
For Sabalenka, it was a familiar sting: her second runner-up finish at the WTA Finals (after 2022) despite entering as the clear favorite. She had powered through the tournament unbeaten until the final, outlasting Amanda Anisimova in a grueling three-set semifinal (6-3, 3-6, 6-3) just 24 hours earlier.
Yet true to form, Sabalenka refused to dwell on the loss. Her post echoes the relentless work ethic that defined her season: a fourth Grand Slam title at the US Open, three major finals, and holding the No. 1 ranking wire-to-wire—even while skipping key WTA 1000 events.
“These matches push me to the limit,” she said post-match, echoing the fighter’s mentality fans saw in her caption. “I’ll definitely go out there and fight for every point.”
Teammates and rivals flooded the comments with fire emojis and support. Coco Gauff wrote, “Queen 👑 Keep grinding!” while even Rybakina liked the post—a classy nod between two of the tour’s biggest hitters.
As the offseason begins, Sabalenka’s message is clear: the fire never dims. With the Australian Open just two months away, the tour’s top spot is hers to defend—and she’s already back in the gym proving luck has nothing to do with it.
Final Score: Elena Rybakina def. Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0)
Prize Money: Runner-up – $2.6 million | Champion – $5.2 million
