Rybakina Upsets Aryna Sabalenka to Secure Record £4 Million Payout
Rybakina sealed her forty-fifth hard court triumph of 2025
Rybakina claimed the largest reward in women's tennis history by beating world number one Sabalenka in two sets at the championship.
The 26-year-old delivered a brilliant display to defeat 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 record-breaking almost £4 million – the highest payout awarded in women's tennis the sport's history.
The prize money tops the £3.74m the Belarusian received for winning September's US Open, which was the most lucrative major tournament in 2025.
"This has been an fantastic tournament," said Rybakina.
"I honestly couldn't have predicted any result so to reach the final was just remarkable."
"Let me offer congratulations to Sabalenka for being number one for a second consecutive year running, it's an tremendous achievement."
Rybakina, who was the sixth-ranked player, hit sixteen winners during a commanding first-set performance.
Rybakina 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 win the first set.
With the second set on serve, the world number one defended another two break points at 4-4 to swing the momentum in her favour.
However, having worked so hard to disrupt Rybakina's rhythm, the top seed let her opponent off the hook by wasting two chances in the next game to level the set at 5-5.
Sabalenka's failure to level the match affected her tiebreak play, with the Kazakh taking all seven points to take home the championship.
The victory, Rybakina's sixth over Sabalenka, means Rybakina will rise one spot in the rankings to fifth in the world.
An emotional Sabalenka appeared to be in tears as she met with her team shortly after the match.
"That was not the finest performance from me today but Elena you were certainly the superior player," Sabalenka told the audience.
"You literally smashed me on court. I'm pleased to see you at your peak. Enjoy this beautiful title."
