🔗 Share this article Elena Rybakina Defeats Sabalenka to Win Historic £4 Million Reward Rybakina secured her forty-fifth hard-court win of the year Elena Rybakina won the largest payday in women's tennis history by beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets at the WTA Finals. Rybakina produced a stunning display to beat four-time major winner her opponent 6-3 7-6 (7-0) in Saudi Arabia. Because both players came through the tournament without a loss, the purse on the table was a unprecedented £3.98m – the largest prize offering in WTA history. The prize money surpasses the £3.74 million the Belarusian earned for winning the US Open, which was the highest-paying Grand Slam in 2025. "This has been an amazing week," commented Rybakina. "I honestly couldn't have predicted this outcome so to reach the final was just unbelievable." "Let me offer congratulations to Sabalenka for holding the top spot for a second year running, it's an outstanding achievement." Rybakina, who was the sixth-ranked player, hit 16 winning shots during a impressive first-set performance. The 2022 Wimbledon winner saved two chances before taking all four points in the sixth game of the set to take the break and held her serve to seal the first set. With the second set on serve, the world number one saved two break points at 4-4 to shift the balance in her favor. But, having worked so hard to disrupt Rybakina's rhythm, Sabalenka let her opponent off the hook by wasting a pair of chances in the next game to tie the second set at five-all. Sabalenka's failure to force a decider impacted her tie-break play, with Rybakina taking all seven points to claim the championship. The victory, her sixth triumph over her rival, means Rybakina will rise one spot in the WTA rankings to fifth in the world rankings. A distraught the runner-up was seen crying as she sat with her coaching team shortly after the final. "That was not the best performance from me today but Rybakina you were definitely the superior competitor," Sabalenka addressed the audience. "You literally overpowered me on court. I'm pleased to see you play your best tennis. Celebrate this stunning trophy."