Aryna Sabalenka defeats Elena Rybakina in a rain-delayed match to advance to the WTA Finals semi-finals

Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the semifinals of the GNP Seguros WTA Finals with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Elena Rybakina on Friday.

Sabalenka is now one step closer to finishing as the year's top ranked player. She'll secure it if she wins her Saturday semifinal match. If Sabalenka loses on Saturday and Iga Swiatek wins the title, Swiatek will reclaim the number one ranking she held for 75 weeks but lost after the US Open.

This match started on Thursday night but was plagued by several rain delays; play was called off just after 11:30 p.m., with Sabalenka leading 6-2, 3-5. After 16 hours, the two returned to the Estadio Paradisus court.

Within two minutes, Rybakina had tied the match at one set apiece.

The first game of the third set was a titanic battle of wills, with Sabalenka surviving nine deuces and two break points in a 17-minute serve hold. With Rybakina serving at 1-2, Sabalenka took the early lead with a pair of forehand winners.

Rybakina broke back when Sabalenka double faulted. Sabalenka then broke for the third time in the set, at love, to take a decisive 4-2 lead.

Sabalenka saved five break points while serving for the match at 5-3 and converted her fourth match point with a thunderous ace.

Sabalenka, who finished runner-up at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth last year, is attempting to become the first player since Serena Williams (2013, 2014) to reach consecutive finals.

Sabalenka has now won five of her last seven matches against Rybakina, snapping a two-match losing streak. It was her eighth victory over a Top 10 player this year, matching her previous best.

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