Rybakina’s Crown, Sabalenka’s Fire, and the Finals That Defined the Season

What a way to close the 2025 tennis season. The WTA Finals in Riyadh delivered everything from tactical masterclasses to emotional meltdowns — and a new champion in Elena Rybakina, who went undefeated through the event. Her poise, power, and quiet confidence carried her past the sport’s fiercest competitors, including world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who once again proved to be the gravitational center of women’s tennis.

Anastasia and Nick unpack Rybakina’s win, the Sabalenka–Anisimova–Pegula rivalries that defined 2025, and the quieter rebuilds happening beneath the surface for Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek. They also touch on the doubles storylines you might have missed — including Kudermetova and Mertens’ sensational year — and discuss what these trends mean heading into the Australian Open.

Then it’s on to the ATP Finals, where Novak Djokovic’s last-minute withdrawal handed Lorenzo Musetti an exhausting, hard-earned ticket to Turin. With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner battling for year-end No. 1, the stage is set for the future of men’s tennis to take full control. The hosts also discuss the ATP’s new Spotify partnership, doubles team shake-ups, and the return of the “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition that has social media divided.

As the 2025 season winds down, Ground Pass looks back at what this year meant — and what’s coming next.