Elena Rybakina Stuns Sabalenka to Claim Historic £4m Reward

Rybakina won the largest prize in WTA all time by beating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets at the WTA Finals.

Rybakina delivered a impressive performance to defeat four-time Grand Slam champion her opponent 6-3 7-6 (7-0) in the host country.

Since each competitor advanced through the event without a loss, the reward on offer was a unprecedented £3.98m – the largest prize offering in women's tennis history.

The prize money exceeds the £3.74m Sabalenka won for claiming the New York major, which was the most lucrative Grand Slam in the current year.

"It's been an fantastic week," stated Rybakina.

"Truly didn't expect this outcome so to go so far was just unbelievable."

"Let me offer praise to Aryna for holding the top spot for a second consecutive year in a row, it's an outstanding accomplishment."

The champion, who was the world number six, hit sixteen winners during a impressive first-set performance.

The 2022 Wimbledon winner saved two chances before taking every point in the sixth game to take the break and held her serve to win the opening set.

With the second set on serve, the world number one saved two opportunities at 4-4 to shift the balance in her favor.

But, after fighting back to upset her opponent's flow, Sabalenka let her opponent off the hook by squandering a pair of chances in the next game to level the set at 5-5.

Her inability to level the match impacted her tie-break performance, with the Kazakh winning all seven points to win the championship.

The victory, her sixth triumph over Sabalenka, means she will rise one place in the WTA rankings to number five in the world rankings.

An emotional Sabalenka appeared to be in tears as she sat with her coaching team shortly after the match.

"That was not the finest performance from me today but Elena you were definitely the better player," the Belarusian told the crowd.

"You literally overpowered me out of the court. I'm pleased to see you at your peak. Celebrate this beautiful trophy."