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Why Aryna Sabalenka may look back on 2025 with regrets despite finishing as world No. 1

Originally posted on HITC | By Matthew Johns | Last updated Nov 18, 2025 3:40 PM ET

Aryna Sabalenka might look back on this season with a few regrets.

Her campaign wrapped up with a defeat to Elena Rybakina in the WTA Finals title match over in Riyadh, capping off a year that had plenty of highs but ended short of another major trophy. With the season now behind her, Sabalenka’s focus shifts to recovery and getting ready for 2026.

Even though she finished as the world number one, one Tennis Hall of Famer thinks there could be reasons for her to feel dissatisfied with how things played out. “There are always reasons not to play or withdraw from certain tournaments,” said Chrissie Evert in an interview with ESPN. “I was disappointed. I really like Aryna.”

The timeline for Aryna Sabalenka’s return is still up in the air after suffering two broken ribs during her loss to Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon. It hasn’t been confirmed if she’ll be fit for the start of next season yet.

If she isn’t ready by January, she’ll need more time away from tennis to recover fully before stepping back onto the court.

Aryna Sabalenka tipped to regret her Australian Open final loss to Madison Keys

Sabalenka managed to defend her US Open title in September, but the 2025 season hasn’t been without setbacks in the Grand Slams.

She finished runner-up twice, falling to Coco Gauff at Roland-Garros and then losing the Australian Open final to Madison Keys.

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

The aftermath of the French Open final drew plenty of headlines thanks to Sabalenka’s comments, but Hall of Fame journalist Steve Flink believes she might have more regrets about how she played against Keys.

Despite highlighting areas where Sabalenka might look back with some frustration, Flink is backing her to come back even stronger in 2026.

“I guess the one she might regret the most with her kind of edge, experience and big match playing know how is the match to Madison Keys in the finals of the Australian,” Flink said on Court-Side with Beilinson Tennis. “But still, it was a hard-fought three-set match and Madi was coming off a win over Swiatek, so be it.”

“The French loss to Gauff was one where we know Sabalenka got a little distraught over the conditions and that was another three-setter. So this was kind of natured a year…[Amanda] Anisimova [with] another very close three-setter at Wimbledon and then she wins US Open.”

“Had she not won the Open, I think it would have been a very frustrating year. But instead she knows she remained right in thick of things everywhere. She retained her number one ranking and I think likelihood is that next year we’ll see even a little bit more success from Sabalenka.”

Sabalenka still had a strong year, despite losses to Rybakina

Even though she may not have claimed as many Grand Slam titles as she hoped for, Sabalenka still enjoyed her best year ever in terms of win-loss record.

She suffered only 12 defeats in her 75 matches this season, and those losses came against 11 different players.

The only player to beat Sabalenka more than once this year was Rybakina. Along with her win at the WTA Finals, Rybakina also defeated Sabalenka at the Cincinnati Open.

However, Sabalenka has also managed two victories over Rybakina in 2025, so it’s far from a one-sided matchup.

She’s already looking ahead to 2026 and will be hoping to back up Flink’s belief that an even stronger season is ahead of her.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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