Rybakina Defeats Sabalenka to Secure Record £4m Reward
Rybakina sealed her 45th hard court triumph of the year
Elena Rybakina claimed the biggest payday in women's tennis history by overcoming top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in two sets at the tournament.
Rybakina delivered a stunning display to overcome four-time Grand Slam winner her opponent 6-3 7-6 (7-0) in Saudi Arabia.
Since each competitor came through the tournament undefeated, the purse on the table was a historic almost £4 million – the biggest payout awarded in women's tennis the sport's history.
The reward surpasses the £3.74 million the Belarusian earned for claiming the New York major, which was the highest-paying major tournament in 2025.
"This has been an incredible tournament," commented Rybakina.
"I honestly couldn't have predicted any result so to win the title was just unbelievable."
"I want to say praise to Sabalenka for being number one for a second consecutive year running, it's an outstanding accomplishment."
The champion, who was the sixth-ranked player, hit sixteen winners during a impressive first-set performance.
Rybakina saved a couple of chances before winning all four points in the sixth game to take the break and held her serve to win the first set.
As the second set progressed, the world number one saved two break points at 4-4 to swing the momentum in her favour.
But, after fighting back to upset her opponent's flow, the top seed let her opponent off the hook by squandering a pair of chances in the following game to tie the second set at five-all.
Sabalenka's failure to level the match affected her tie-break performance, with the Kazakh winning all seven points to win the championship.
The victory, her sixth triumph over Sabalenka, means Rybakina will rise one place in the WTA rankings to number five in the world.
A distraught the runner-up was seen crying as she met with her team soon after the match.
"It was not the finest display from me today but Elena you were definitely the better competitor," Sabalenka told the crowd.
"You literally smashed me out of the court. I'm pleased to see you play your best tennis. Celebrate this beautiful title."
