WTA Finals: Aryna Sabalenka in tears after failing to win biggest payday in women’s tennis history

Join the Miguel Delaney Inside Football Get exclusive insights and behind-the scenes access to the Miguel Delaney: inside newsletter Football NewsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney inside Football newsletterAryna Sabalenka smashed her racket and broke into tears after losing to Elena Rybakina in the WTA Finals singles final and missing out on the biggest single payday in women’s tennis history. Rybakina has won her first title since winning Wimbledon in 2022. The sixth seed in Riyadh produced an amazing performance to beat the World No. 1 6-3 7-6 (7-1), in Saudi Arabia. Rybakina and Sabalenka both won all three of their round-robin matches to advance to the final undefeated, which meant a record prize of $5,235,000 (£3.98m) was on the line for the champion. open image in galleryRybakina beat Sabalenka in straight-sets to continue her excellent end-of-season form (REUTERS)It is more than Sabalenka received for winning the US Open title two months ago, where the World No 1 pocketed an overall prize of $5m (£3.74m) for defeating Amanda Anisimova for her fourth grand slam title. Rybakina’s performance, which combined unstoppable serving and destructive groundstrokes, suggested the 26-year-old could once again compete for grand slam titles following a frustrating period of illness and a loss of form since her last major final at the Australian Open in 2023, where she lost to Sabalenka in three sets. Rybakina qualified as the last player for the WTA Finals. She won 11 consecutive matches to continue an excellent season-ending form. The 26-year old was in complete control of her serve in the second set but had to save two set points to force the final, where she won 7 points in a line to win the biggest title in 3 years. Rybakina described the week as “incredible”. “I didn’t think I would get any results, but to have come this far is incredible. It was a very tough match today.”Sabalenka broke her racket and shook hands with Rybakina on the net. The Belarusian then walked off the court to meet her coaches and broke down in tears. “I am getting old, I am getting really sensitive,” “Sabralenka said at the trophy ceremony. “So many things to be proud of. It was not the best performance but she was clearly the better athlete. She literally smashed out of court.”Open image in gallerySabalenka lost in both grand slams finals in this season. (REUTERS).Sabalenka wanted to win her first WTA Finals after losing to Caroline Garcia in 2022’s final. She lost two grand-slam finals to Madison Keys, at the Australian Open, and Coco Garros at Roland Garros in 2025. Two months ago, she defeated Anisimova at the US Open to win. Sabalenka set a record for the highest WTA earnings in a season. According to the WTA, Sabalenka’s season earnings are now well above the previous record held by Serena Williams in 2013, when she won $12,385,572. According to the WTA, it takes Sabalenka’s season earnings well above previous record owned by Serena Williams in 2013, when she won $12,385,572.open image in galleryAryna Sabalenka had already sealed the year-end No 1 (REUTERS)Saudi Arabia is into the second year of its three-year deal to host the WTA Finals and announced record prize money of $15.5m (£12m) for the year-end event, which features the best eight players in the world. The biggest single payday of the season on the men’s side also took place in Riyadh, when Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz to win $6m (£4.5m) in the final of the Six Kings Slam exhibition last month. It is the highest profile women’s tennis event to take place in Saudi Arabia, which has often been accused of using sport and entertainment to whitewash its human rights record.open image in galleryRybakina won the biggest payday in women’s tennis history at over $5.2m (AFP via Getty Images)How WTA Finals compares to grand slamsWTA Finals undefeated champion: $5.235m (£3.98m) 2025 US Open champion: $5m (£3.74m) 2025 Wimbledon champion: $4m (£3m) 2025 French Open champion: $2.9m (£2.17m) 2025 Australian Open champion: $2.3m (£1.75m)
2025-11-08 19:06:42