The Kazakh star defeated the world No. 1 player in the 2025 WTA Finals final, achieving an unprecedented feat.

This is Sabalenka’s second loss in a year-end final. Previously, the four-time Grand Slam champion lost to Caroline Garcia in the 2022 championship match. Meanwhile, Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, reached her first WTA Finals final after three consecutive appearances at the event.

With an undefeated 5-0 record at the event featuring the top 8 players of the season, Rybakina earned $5.23 million in prize money. According to the WTA, this is the highest payout in women’s sports history. Sabalenka, as runner-up, earned $2.7 million.

In the first set, Rybakina broke Sabalenka’s serve to take a 4-2 lead before closing the set 6-3. In the second set, Sabalenka saved four break points to push the match into a tiebreak.

The Belarusian player entered the match with a 22–2 record in tiebreaks this season but was blanked 0-7 this time, ending the match with a backhand error on the final point.

This win boosts Rybakina’s hard-court victories this season to 45, leading the entire WTA. The 26-year-old Kazakh also became the 10th consecutive new champion at the WTA Finals.

She will finish the season ranked No. 5 in the world, the highest ranking of her career, with a total of 58 wins and 3 titles.

On the other hand, Sabalenka will end the year as world No. 1 for the second straight year. In 2024, she won 4 titles, including the US Open, with 63 match wins, and reached the finals of Roland Garros and the Australian Open.

"She was amazing," Sabalenka praised her opponent. "I gave it my all. Although the outcome wasn’t what I hoped for, I have many reasons to be proud. I leave the tournament without any disappointment."