Elena Rybakina capped off her season with a commanding performance at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, defeating world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) to claim the prestigious title. It marked her first major victory since the 2023 Italian Open and earned her a record-breaking $5,235,000 in prize money, the largest payout in tennis history.

Sabalenka’s frustration after defeat

Despite entering the final as the favourite, Sabalenka suffered another painful loss in a big match, following earlier defeats in the Australian Open and French Open finals. After the match, she appeared visibly upset and reportedly muttered a Russian phrase to her team, interpreted by some as “once a year even the stick shoots.” The remark drew criticism online, though others defended her reaction as an emotional response to the defeat.

Rybakina’s reaction

Speaking to Tengri News, Rybakina made clear she had not taken offence to the alleged comment. “They told me after the match, but it was in context. We’ve played with Aryna many times, and more than once this year, so I don’t really focus on it. I have good feelings for both Aryna and her team, so I don’t take it to heart, even if it was actually said to me,” she explained.

Record prize money and future outlook

Rybakina’s payout surpassed the $5,000,000 awarded to Carlos Alcaraz and Sabalenka for their US Open triumphs earlier in the year, and remained ahead of Jannik Sinner’s ATP Finals earnings. Asked about the disparity between prize money at the WTA Finals and the Grand Slams, she expressed optimism about the future. “How fair is this? I think we’re aiming for more tournaments to increase their prize pools. So, I think it’s just a matter of time. In a couple of years, I’m sure other tournaments will follow suit,” she said.

A season of highs and challenges

Beyond her WTA Finals victory, Rybakina also lifted titles at the Strasbourg International and Ningbo Open in 2025. However, she struggled to make deep runs at the biggest events, failing to reach a WTA 1000 final or a Grand Slam quarter-final. Her triumph in Riyadh has reignited hopes that she can re-establish herself as a dominant force in women’s tennis heading into 2026.