Elena Rybakina has rewritten tennis history with an extraordinary performance at the WTA Finals 2025 in Riyadh, sealing not only the season-ending title but also the biggest payout ever recorded in women’s sports. The Kazakh star dominated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (0), to lift her maiden WTA Finals trophy after a flawless week on the indoor hard courts.
Rybakina’s unbeaten streak throughout the tournament earned her an incredible £4 million prize, setting a new benchmark for both the WTA and ATP Tours. The payout surpasses what even leading men’s players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner stand to earn at the ATP Finals in Turin, where the undefeated champion will receive £3.876 million.
Her path to glory featured victories over Amanda Anisimova, Iga Swiatek, and Ekaterina Alexandrova in the group stage, each win adding £271,000 to her total. She then advanced past Jessica Pegula in the semifinals, earning another £986,000 before securing £1.9 million for her triumph in the championship match against Sabalenka. The result capped a perfect run that symbolized dominance and composure from start to finish.
The £4 million payout also exceeds the record-breaking £3.8 million awarded to US Open champions earlier this year, making Rybakina’s achievement a defining moment for equality and recognition in women’s tennis. Speaking after her win, the 2022 Wimbledon champion expressed her joy and gratitude, saying that while the amount was “huge,” her focus remained on celebrating the victory with her team and family.
With her commanding performance and unmatched earnings, Rybakina has firmly established herself among the sport’s elite, setting a new milestone that reflects the growing prestige and competitiveness of women’s tennis on the global stage.