Regardless of who wins the Abu Dhabi 2025 Final between Belinda Bencic and Ashlyn Krueger, one thing is already certain: it won’t be Elena Rybakina. While she managed to stage a comeback from a 2-4 deficit in the deciding set tiebreak against Ons Jabeur in the quarterfinals, she couldn’t repeat the feat against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic. With a score of 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, the Kazakh player, born in Moscow, was forced to concede defeat.
On the other hand, Bencic and Jabeur are thriving.
Ons Jabeur improving
The Tunisian delivered a stellar quarterfinal performance against Rybakina, despite the loss. The crowd was treated to spectacular points: sliced backhand passing winners, delicate drop shots, and hard-fought winners from intense baseline rallies. With the electric atmosphere in the stands, Jabeur could just as easily have won the match. One thing is almost certain: she will return in 2025 with renewed determination.
Imperial Belinda Bencic
Even more remarkable is the resurgence of Belinda Bencic. Playing with unshakable confidence and a rock-solid mentality, her comeback was evident from the opening round of the 2025 Australian Open, where she eliminated Jelena Ostapenko in a second-set tiebreak. She then powered through to the fourth round, facing Coco Gauff. Bencic took a set off the American and showed tremendous fighting spirit, though her game slightly unraveled in the deciding set.
And now she is back in that same form! First, she defeated Rebecca Sramkova in Abu Dhabi, an opponent not to be underestimated. Then she dismantled Veronika Kudermetova with two bagels before meeting Marketa Vondrousova in the quarterfinals, whom she dispatched in two sets: 7-5, 6-3.
But her most impressive feat came in the semifinals against Rybakina, another top-5 player like Coco Gauff. This time, Bencic showed no mercy. She claimed victory in three sets and stormed into the final, where she will undoubtedly be the favorite against American Ashlyn Krueger.
A remarkable resurgence from two fantastic WTA players.