ATP Finals Drama, WTA Finals Recap, & More
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This week on Served, Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim break down the WTA finals where Elena Rybakina went on a perfect 5-0 run to claim the title. Andy also talks about Learner Tien winning his first tour title and Novak Djokovic winning in Athens and then pulling out of the ATP Finals allowing Musetti into the draw.
If you haven’t watched the episode yet, click the link below and then come back here to finish reading the rest of the stories!
Biggest headlines from this week’s episode.
Elena Rybakina wins her first WTA Finals title with a perfect 5–0 record in Riyadh.
Aryna Sabalenka finishes 2025 as year-end No. 1 with record prize money and 63 match wins.
Novak Djokovic wins his 101st title in Athens, making him the oldest ATP champion since 1990.
Learner Tien wins his first ATP title in Metz, becoming first American teenager to win ATP title since Andy Roddick.
Cool stories with crazy stats.
Elena Rybakina’s Perfect Riyadh Run
$5.235 Million - The record payout Rybakina earned for her championship run, surpassing all previous prize money records in women’s sports history.
13 Aces - Rybakina’s dominant serving display in the final against Sabalenka, backed by 48 aces across the entire tournament.
7-0 Tiebreak - The second-set tiebreak scoreline that sealed the championship, a stunning display of composure where Rybakina delivered under maximum pressure.
Historic achievement: First player from Kazakhstan to win the WTA Finals.
Stories we love but didn’t make it on the episode.
Vitaliy Sachko’s Inspiring Run
In a week full of breakthrough performances, Vitaliy Sachko‘s journey to the semifinals at the Moselle Open in Metz captured hearts across the tennis world.
The 28-year-old Ukrainian, ranked No. 222, entered as a lucky loser and defeated local favorite Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and unpredictable World No. 13 Alexander Bublik en route to becoming the first Ukrainian man to win an ATP Tour match since 2021 and the first to reach an ATP semifinal since 2017.
His breakthrough run propelled him back into the Top 200 and earned him automatic entry into Grand Slam qualifying rounds, offering hope to a Ukrainian tennis community that has seen funding redirected and promising athletes join the military since 2022. (Read more here)
Shelton Adds to Southpaw Legacy
With last year’s ATP Finals points dropping off the rankings, Ben Shelton achieved a career milestone by climbing to a new career-high of No. 5 on the ATP rankings, marking his Top 5 debut and making him just the third left-handed player to reach the Top 5 this century, after Rafael Nadal and Jack Draper.
The 23-year-old Georgian is just the 17th left-handed player to reach the Top 5 in ATP rankings history since 1973, joining an elite group that includes Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, and Guillermo Vilas.
The last time a left-handed player other than Nadal, Draper, or Shelton was in the ATP Top 5 was during the 1999 Australian Open, when Marcelo Rios held the No. 2 ranking. (Read more here)
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Global action beyond tennis.
BADMINTON: Tai Tzu-ying Announces Retirement - Taiwanese badminton icon and Olympic silver medalist Tai Tzu-ying announced her retirement at age 31, ending a glittering 16-year career due to injury. The former world No. 1 is widely regarded as one of the sport’s most creative and skillful players, having captured over 30 international titles throughout her career. (Read more here)
SQUASH: Sobhy and Cardenas Capture Titles at St. James Expression Open - World No. 66 Sabrina Sobhy claimed her first PSA title since returning from a serious wrist injury, defeating Sin Yuk Chan 11–3, 11–7, 11–13, 11–6 at The St. James Expression Open in Springfield. Meanwhile, Mexican No. 1 Leonel Cardenas secured his second consecutive Copper-level title, defeating Veer Chotrani 13–11, 4–11, 11–4, 11–3 to move to a career-high World No. 12. (Read more here)
PICKLEBALL: USA Pickleball Nationals Set for San Diego - The 2025 USA Pickleball National Championships will take place November 15–23 at Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, featuring the sport’s elite amateur and professional talent across singles, doubles, and adaptive sports divisions. (Read more here)
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