WTA Finals: Elena Rybakina upsets Aryna Sabalenka to claim record £4m prize
Elena Rybakina earned the biggest payday in women’s tennis history by defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets at the WTA Finals.
The 26-year-old player put on a spectacular performance in Saudi Arabia, defeating four-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka 6-3 7-6 (7-0).
As both players finished the tournament undefeated, the prize money on offer was a record-breaking £3.98 million; this was the largest payout bid in women’s tennis history.
The prize money tops the £3.74 million Sabalenka, 27, earned by winning September’s US Open, the highest-paid Grand Slam of 2025.
“It was an incredible week,” said Rybakina from Kazakhstan.
“I wasn’t expecting any results to be honest, so it was incredible to get this far.
“I want to congratulate Aryna on being number one for the second year in a row, this is an incredible achievement.”
Rybakina, ranked sixth in the world, had a dominant performance in the first set and achieved 16 wins.
The 2022 Wimbledon winner saved two break points and held serve to end the first set with a break before winning all four points in the sixth game.
In the second set, Sabalenka turned the momentum in her favor by saving two break points at 4-4.
However, Sabalenka, who worked hard to disrupt Rybakina’s rhythm, let her opponent off the hook by wasting two set points in the next game, tying the second set at 5-5.
Sabalenka’s failure to tie the match affected her performance in the tiebreak; Rybakina took home the title by winning all seven points.
Rybakina’s sixth victory over Sabalenka means she will move up one place in the rankings to fifth in the world.
A distraught Sabalenka broke down in tears as the coach sat with her team shortly after the game.
“It wasn’t the best performance for me today, but Elena you were definitely a better player,” Belarusian Sabalenka told the crowd.
“You literally kicked me off the court. I’m happy to see you playing your best tennis. Enjoy this beautiful trophy.”
