Elena Rybakina capped a flawless week at the WTA Finals on Saturday, securing her first trophy in the season-ending championships by stunning world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) in the final in Riyadh. She dominated the serves and hit things hard, earning a record-breaking $5.235 million in prize money, i.e. the largest payout in women's tennis history, surpassing the US Open prize money won by Sabalenka earlier in the year.
The final was a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open title clash, but this time, it was the World No. 6 who dictated play. Rybakina made the only break of the match count in the opening set, shrugging off concerns over a sore shoulder to break for a 4-2 lead. She sealed the set leaving Sabalenka, scrambling. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion continued to pile on the pressure in the second set, saving all five break points she faced across the match, including two critical set points in the 10th game.
The second set proceeded to a tiebreak, which proved to be a surprising anticlimax. Despite Sabalenka entering the match with a superb 22-2 record in tiebreakers this season; the most in the Open Era, Rybakina was relentless. The Kazakh took the early lead and never looked back, securing the set and the title with a perfect 7-0 tiebreak shutout. The victory extended Rybakina’s late-season surge and winning streak to 11 consecutive matches, making her the 10th consecutive first-time WTA Finals champion.
A visibly distraught Sabalenka appeared tearful after the match, but was gracious in defeat. The Belarusian finished as the year-end World No. 1 for a second consecutive season, an achievement she was congratulated on by Rybakina. Sabalenka acknowledged her opponent's superiority, telling the crowd: "It was not the best performance from me today, but Elena you were definitely the better player." She added, "You literally smashed me out of the court. I'm happy to see you play your best tennis. Enjoy this beautiful trophy."
Rybakina's win, which took just 1 hour and 47 minutes, elevates her to a career-high World No. 5 ranking. The victory also marked several milestones, including the first time a player representing Kazakhstan (and any Asian nation) has won the WTA Finals. The $5.235 million payday rewards Rybakina for a strong finish to her season, which included three titles in total and a final match record of 58-19, positioning her for further success in the upcoming 2026 season.
