A stunning display from Elena Rybakina toppled World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win the WTA Finals and take home the biggest single payday in women’s tennis history at $5.23m. Rybakina won her fifth match of the week in Riyadh and saved her best for the final, outplaying Sabalenka to win 6-3 7-6 (7-0) and lift her biggest title since Wimbledon in 2022.
Rybakina’s performance, which combined unstoppable serving and destructive groundstrokes, suggested the 26-year-old could once again compete for grand slam titles following a frustrating period of illness and a loss of form since her last major final at the Australian Open in 2023, where she lost to Sabalenka in three sets.
Sabalenka, who had already secured the year-end No 1, was looking to finish her season in style after winning her fourth grand slam title at the US Open. But she had no answer to Rybakina’s power as the sixth seed claimed an overall prize of $5.23m that was bigger than what Sabalenka did for winning the US Open two months ago.
Follow live reaction from Sabalenka v Rybakina the WTA Finals below
Aryna Sabalenka in tears after missing out on biggest payday in women’s tennis history
Aryna Sabalenka smashed her racket and broke into tears after losing to Elena Rybakina in the WTA Finals singles final and missing out on the biggest single payday in women’s tennis history.
Rybakina won her biggest title since lifting Wimbledon in 2022 as the sixth seed produced a stunning performance to win 6-3 7-6 (7-0) against the World No 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Rybakina and Sabalenka both won all three of their round-robin matches to advance to the final undefeated, which meant a record prize of $5,235,000 (£3.98m) was on the line for the champion.
Rybakina completes hot end to season with WTA Finals title
Elena Rybakina was the last player to qualify for the WTA Finals but went on a winning streak to book her place and continued that in Riyadh. She has now won 10 matches in a row, and this performance against Sabalenka in the final shows that she can compete for grand slam titles again.
She will head to the Australian Open, where she reached the final in 2023, ranked No 5 in the world and one of the contenders for the title, without a doubt.
Elena Rybakina wins WTA Finals
As usual, Rybakina keeps cool even as she wins $5.23 and beats Sabalenka to win her biggest title in three years. Sabalenka is far more emotional as she goes to the side of the court and bursts into tears while talking to her team. She has smashed her racket too.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Elena Rybakina 6-3 7-6 (7-0) Aryna Sabalenka
Ridiculous. Unplayable. Elena Rybakina wins her biggest title since Wimbledon three years ago with a performance that displays why she can win even more grand slams. She has won the WTA Finals!
WTA Finals: Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 6-6 Elena Rybakina
The errors keep coming from Sabalenka! FIVE points in a row for Rybakina to lead 5-0!
WTA Finals: Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 6-6 Elena Rybakina
Sabalenka goes for an aggressive forehand return crosscourt, but it goes out! Rybakina has won the first three point, to lead 3-0.
WTA Finals: Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 6-6 Elena Rybakina
Oof. Rybakina finds depth and Sabalenka nets on the opening point. If Rybakina can win her service points, she’ll win the title.
WTA Finals: Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 6-6 Elena Rybakina
Has the momentum turned? Either way Rybakina keeps cool to hold serve and send this into a tiebreak, thumping another ace en route. Can she keep that level up in the decider?
