Rybakina Seizes Athens Final Spot as Djokovic Stuns with Steady Mastery

Rybakina advances to the final after a tense comeback

Elena Rybakina kept her hot streak rolling in Athens, rallying to defeat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in 79 minutes to reach the championship match. She fought through a late test from the American and sealed a well-deserved spot in the final, where she will face the winner of the other semifinal between Arina Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova.

In the men's semifinal, Novak Djokovic, 38, steadied a brief mid-match setback and drew energy from a raucous crowd to seal a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann, moving him into his 144th career final and tightening his perfect 2025 ledger to 30-0 after the opening set.

Djokovic later thanked the fans via the ATP Tour site for filling the arena again, saying the venue is among the finest indoor courts he’s ever played on and that the atmosphere helped him stay focused throughout the match.

The Serb’s win extended his lead in their head-to-head to 3-0 against Hanfmann, a record that has grown stronger after his comeback in Shanghai last month. Djokovic now eyes a final that would add another illustrious chapter to a season already loaded with milestones and triumphs.

Djokovic also ended a streak of four consecutive semifinal losses this season, a run that had seen him fall short at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open, and Shanghai. “I think today’s level was the best tennis I’ve shown in this tournament, and it came at the right moment,” Djokovic said. “I stayed calm after the hiccup in the second set and I’m really excited for the final.”

Should he triumph in Athens, Djokovic would collect his 101st tour title and add Greece to a long list of remarkable stops, where he thrives in high-pressure situations. He will await the winner of the Musetti–Korda bout in Saturday’s final as he chases more history on the road.

Quarterfinals and a surge of momentum

The Serbian star reached the semis after dispatching Portugal’s Nuno Borges 7-6 (1/7) 6-4 in the QF, registering his 200th indoor-win in the process. At 38, he is still taking on this week’s Athens field with a mix of laser focus and veteran poise.

While Djokovic rides a wave of form, Rybakina’s path in the other half of the draw has been equally dramatic. The Kazakh defeated Pegula to set up a final against Sabalenka or Anisimova, as she seeks to convert her prodigious talent into more big-stage success.

Rybakina’s 10-match winning streak now includes multiple wins against top-10 opponents. She finished the Pegula match with a staggering 15 aces and broke Pegula’s serve five times, a telling indicator of how her heavy delivery has become a weapon on indoor courts.

The Kazakh’s round-robin performance in the Serena Williams group went 3-0, beating Anisimova, Iga Shviontek, and Ekaterina Alexandrova, a showing that matched Sabalenka’s group feat. Pegula, who progressed in Graf group, finished second after beating Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini but losing to Sabalenka.

At 31, Pegula is the oldest finalist in this event since Venus Williams (37) back in 2017, underscoring the intensity and endurance required for a year-end trophy run. Rybakina is based in Dubai and despite the travel demand, she favored the indoor conditions at King Saud University for its serve-friendly surface.

As the women's final approaches, the stage is set for a compelling showdown between the top seed Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova, with Rybakina chasing another breakthrough in a tournament rich with history and high-stakes tennis.

humor punchlines

Two sniper-style quips to cap the piece: 1) If tennis speeds up any more, even the lines judges will need a GPS. 2) Rybakina isn’t just serving aces; she’s serving life advice—on how to win matches and avoid Mondays.

Finals set, drama guaranteed

With the women’s final line-up still to be decided and Djokovic safely into his own final march, this week in Athens has delivered elite-level tennis, unyielding competition, and a reminder that a tennis season can still surprise even the most seasoned fans.