Rybakina Stuns Sabalenka to Claim Record £4 Million Prize

Elena Rybakina secured the largest reward in women's tennis history by beating top-ranked Sabalenka in two sets at the championship.

The 26-year-old delivered a stunning display to beat four-time Grand Slam champion her opponent in two sets in the host country.

Because each competitor advanced through the tournament without a loss, the prize money on offer was a unprecedented £3.98 million – the biggest prize awarded in women's tennis the sport's history.

The prize money tops the £3.74m Sabalenka received for winning the New York major, which was the most lucrative major tournament in 2025.

"It's been an incredible tournament," said Rybakina.

"I honestly couldn't have predicted any result so to go so far was just incredible."

"I want to say congratulations to Sabalenka for holding the top spot for a second year in a row, it's an tremendous achievement."

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

The 2022 Wimbledon winner saved two chances before taking every point in the sixth game of the set to go a break up and held her serve to secure the first set.

With the second set on serve, the world number one defended two opportunities at 4-4 to swing the momentum in her favour.

However, after fighting back to upset her opponent's flow, Sabalenka let her opponent off the hook by wasting two set points in the following game to tie the second set at 5-5.

Her inability to force a decider affected her tiebreak play, with the Kazakh winning all seven points to win the championship.

The victory, Rybakina's sixth over Sabalenka, means Rybakina will move up one place in the rankings to number five in the world rankings.

A distraught the runner-up was seen crying as she met with her team soon after the final.

"That was not the finest performance from me in this match but Rybakina you were certainly the better competitor," the Belarusian told the crowd.

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