In a thrilling climax to the 2025 WTA season, Elena Rybakina upset world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) on Saturday night to win the WTA Finals, securing the largest payout in women’s sports history at $5.23 million.
The victory marked a breakthrough for the Kazakhstani star, who dominated the elite eight-player field with an undefeated 5-0 record on the indoor hard courts of Riyadh.
Rybakina, seeded sixth and ranked No. 6 entering the tournament, showcased her powerful serve and baseline precision throughout the week.
She fired eight aces in the final and converted the match’s only break point to take a commanding 4-2 lead in the opening set. Sabalenka, the four-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus, fought back valiantly in the second set, saving four break points to force a tiebreaker.
However, Rybakina seized control in the decider, racing to a 7-0 shutout – known as a “bagel” in tennis slang – and sealing the win when Sabalenka’s backhand return sailed long on match point.
“It’s been an incredible week. I honestly didn’t expect any result, and to go so far is just incredible,” an elated Rybakina said in her on-court interview.
Her path to the title was nothing short of remarkable, featuring upset victories over No. 2 seed Iga Świątek in the group stage, followed by straight-set triumphs against Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals and Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals.
This was Rybakina’s maiden WTA Finals title match in her third straight appearance at the year-end championships.
For Sabalenka, the defeat echoed her 2022 Finals loss to Caroline Garcia in Fort Worth, Texas. Despite entering with an 8-5 head-to-head advantage over Rybakina and a stellar 22-2 record in tiebreakers this season, the top-ranked player couldn’t overcome her opponent’s firepower.
Sabalenka pocketed $2.7 million as runner-up and reflected positively on her performance: “She played incredible. I feel like I did my best today. It didn’t work, but I think so many things I have to be proud of. And yeah, I’m leaving this tournament without any disappointment.”
The first set went 6-3 after Rybakina broke Sabalenka at 3-2 following a series of unforced errors from the Belarusian. The Kazakh held serve comfortably, closing out the set with a love hold.
The second set went to a tiebreaker at 7-6(0), with Sabalenka elevating her game and fending off break points in lengthy service games. The tiebreaker was one-sided, with Rybakina winning the first six points on a mix of aces, winners, and Sabalenka errors.
Rybakina finished with 8 aces to Sabalenka’s 5, 28 winners to 22, and 15 unforced errors to 24. Rybakina converted 1 of 5 break points; Sabalenka converted 0 of 4.
The 26-year-old Rybakina, who represents Kazakhstan but was born in Moscow, capped a resurgent season with this triumph. Her 45th hard-court win of the year is a tour-leading figure, and her overall 58-19 record includes three titles (adding to previous wins at Brisbane and Abu Dhabi).
As the 2022 Wimbledon champion, Rybakina becomes the 10th consecutive first-time winner of the WTA Finals, a streak dating back to 2015. She will ascend to a career-high No. 5 in the rankings on Monday.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, secures the year-end No. 1 ranking for the second straight season. The 27-year-old compiled a 63-12 record with four titles, highlighted by her US Open crown and runner-up finishes at the Australian Open and French Open. Her consistency – including a 15-3 record in finals this year – underscores her dominance, even in defeat.
The WTA Finals, held for the first time in Riyadh as part of a multi-year deal with Saudi Arabia, featured a record $15.25 million prize pool – a 70% increase from 2024.
Rybakina’s $5.23 million check surpasses the previous women’s sports record of $4.9 million, earned by Nelly Korda for winning the 2024 CME Group Tour Championship in golf.
The event drew praise for its production but also scrutiny over the host nation’s human rights record, with players like Rybakina focusing on the tennis: “The courts were great, the atmosphere was amazing.”
Rybakina’s win cements her status as one of the WTA’s premier hard-court players, blending a 130+ mph serve with improved movement and mental toughness.
As the tour heads into the offseason, her Riyadh heroics provide momentum heading into 2026, while Sabalenka’s No. 1 reign sets up another blockbuster rivalry.
This victory not only rewards Rybakina’s perseverance through injuries earlier in the year but also highlights the depth of women’s tennis, where upsets and new champions continue to emerge at the highest level.