🔗 Share this article Rybakina Defeats Aryna Sabalenka to Secure Historic £4 Million Payout Elena Rybakina secured her forty-fifth hard court triumph of the year Rybakina won the largest reward in WTA history by overcoming top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets at the WTA Finals. The 26-year-old delivered a brilliant display to defeat four-times major champion her opponent 6-3 7-6 (7-0) in Saudi Arabia. Since both players advanced through the tournament undefeated, the prize money on offer was a record-breaking almost £4 million – the highest prize awarded in women's tennis the sport's history. The reward tops the £3.74m Sabalenka received for claiming September's New York major, which was the highest-paying major tournament in 2025. "It's been an fantastic week," said Rybakina. "I honestly couldn't have predicted any result so to go so far was just incredible." "Let me offer congratulations to Aryna for holding the top spot for a second consecutive year running, it's an outstanding accomplishment." The champion, who was the sixth-ranked player, delivered 16 winning shots during a impressive first-set performance. The 2022 Wimbledon winner fended off two chances before winning all four points in the sixth game of the set to go a break up and held her serve to secure the opening set. As the second set progressed, the world number one saved two opportunities at 4-4 to shift the balance in her favour. However, after fighting back to upset her opponent's flow, the top seed failed to capitalize by wasting a pair of chances in the following game to level the second set at five-all. Sabalenka's failure to force a decider affected her tie-break performance, with the Kazakh taking every point to take home the championship. This win, her sixth triumph over Sabalenka, means Rybakina will rise one spot in the WTA rankings to number five in the world rankings. An emotional the runner-up was seen crying as she sat with her team shortly after the match. "That was not the best display from me today but Elena you were definitely the better competitor," Sabalenka addressed the crowd. "You literally smashed me out of the court. I'm happy to see you at your peak. Celebrate this stunning title."