In a stunning display of skill and determination, Elena Rybakina capped off the 2025 tennis season by winning the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Kazakh player, who entered the tournament as the eighth and final qualifier, delivered a flawless performance, going undefeated throughout the event. In the championship match, she defeated the reigning world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (0) to lift the Billie Jean King Trophy for the first time in her career.

This victory marked a monumental achievement, making her the first player from Kazakhstan ever to win the season-ending tournament. Reflecting on her unexpected triumph, Rybakina admitted, “Today was such a tough battle. It was an amazing atmosphere to play here. I’m enjoying it the second year in a row, and it’s really amazing to be here.” The scale of her achievement was recognized beyond the sport, as the victory earned Elena Rybakina a place in the Guinness World Records.

The official Guinness World Records website announced that Rybakina has set a new record for the biggest prize money ever won by a tennis player in a single tournament! She raked in a whopping $5.235 million before taxes during her amazing undefeated week at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. This incredible amount means that no man or woman in professional tennis, and no female athlete in the history of women’s sports, has ever been awarded such a generous prize for their performance in a single tournament.

This record-breaking payout surpassed previous benchmarks set by other top players, including the $5 million earned by Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 US Open just months prior. The structure of the WTA Finals prize money, which included a substantial bonus for an undefeated run, contributed to this unprecedented figure.

Rybakina’s total earnings comprised a participation fee, rewards for each of her three round-robin wins, and a massive $2.5 million title bonus for winning the tournament without a single loss. This financial incentive was noted by tennis legend Jimmy Connors, who praised the format on his podcast, stating, “You know, adding a bonus like that, I kind of like that. It gives the players something you know, not that winning the event and beating the No.1, No.2, No.3 in the world isn’t enough, but little incentives, two and a half million is not a little incentive, but you know that’s pretty amazing.” 

When asked about the monumental amount, Rybakina herself smiled and remarked, “Well it’s definitely a huge amount and honestly I didn’t think about any of that so much but of course it’s great and we definitely need to celebrate really well with the team, family and everyone.” This record not only highlights Rybakina’s personal success but also signifies a new era in the financial landscape of women’s sports. And definitely, her win caught the attention of a tennis legend.

Impressed with Elena Rybakina’s performance

Andrew Roddick, the former World No. 1, talked about Elena Rybakina’s impressive performance at the WTA Finals on his YouTube podcast, Andy Roddick’s Served Media. Roddick shared his thoughts on Elena’s WTA run, saying, “Rybakina’s dominance at the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, going through Anisimova pretty straightforward, Iga Swiatek, Alexandrova, Pegula, Sabalenka five on the trot… she’s going to have a massive 2026.”

So, the Kazak is ahead of Aryna Sabalenka 8-6, has a little lead over Iga Swiatek at 6-5, and even holds a 1-0 record against Coco Gauff. This really highlighted that she can go toe-to-toe with the top players and step up when it counts. Roddick’s co-host, Jon Wertheim, chimed in, saying, “Watch her play, watch her serve her way out of trouble, watch her authoritative tennis, watch her get it done in November, and you cannot help but think she has put herself right back squarely in the conversation of who’s going to win majors next year.”

Rybakina took down Sabalenka in the final, smashing 13 aces, saving all five break points, and winning about 73% of her second-serve points along with roughly 72.3% of her first-serve points. She really took charge on returns and from the baseline, smashing 36 winners while Sabalenka managed just 12. The Kazak was truly a force to be reckoned with in Riyadh. Well, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how she does in the next season! Lots of tennis fans are really looking forward to watching her take charge of the campaign.