Elena Rybakina Defeats Sabalenka to Win Historic £4 Million Payout
Elena Rybakina earned her forty-fifth hard court triumph of 2025
Elena Rybakina secured the largest prize in WTA all time by beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets at the championship.
The 26-year-old delivered a impressive performance to defeat four-time major champion her opponent 6-3 7-6 (7-0) in the host country.
Since both players advanced through the competition undefeated, the prize money on offer was a unprecedented £3.98 million – the highest payout offering in women's tennis history.
The prize money tops the £3.74 million Sabalenka won for winning the New York major, which was the most lucrative Grand Slam in the current year.
"It's been an fantastic tournament," stated the Kazakh player.
"I honestly couldn't have predicted any result so to win the title was just incredible."
"Let me offer praise to Aryna for holding the top spot for a second consecutive year running, it's an incredible achievement."
The champion, who was the world number six, delivered sixteen winners during a dominant opening set performance.
Rybakina saved a couple of chances before winning every point in the sixth game of the set to go a break up and served out to seal the first set.
As the second set progressed, the world number one saved two break points at four-all to shift the balance in her favour.
But, after fighting back to disrupt Rybakina's rhythm, the top seed failed to capitalize by wasting two chances in the following game to tie the set at five-all.
Her inability to force a decider affected her tie-break performance, with the Kazakh taking every point to take home the championship.
The victory, her sixth triumph over Sabalenka, means she will move up one place in the rankings to number five in the world.
A distraught the runner-up appeared to be in tears as she sat with her coaching team shortly after the final.
"That was not the best performance from me today but Rybakina you were certainly the superior competitor," Sabalenka told the crowd.
"You literally overpowered me out of the court. I'm pleased to see you play your best tennis. Celebrate this beautiful title."
