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Elena Rybakina overpowered World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 7-6 (7-0) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to win the WTA Finals singles title, sealing her biggest triumph since Wimbledon 2022 and the record $5,235,000 champion prize. Both arrived unbeaten from round-robin play. Rybakina’s serving and destructive groundstrokes carried her through two saved set points before she reeled off seven straight in the tiebreak. A distraught Sabalenka smashed her racket and wept, yet her finalist payout lifted her season earnings past $15m, a WTA record. The event is in year two of Saudi Arabia’s three-year hosting deal.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.