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Rybakina won the greatest payday in WTA history by defeating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in two sets at the championship.

Rybakina delivered a brilliant display to defeat four-time Grand Slam winner her opponent 6-3 7-6 (7-0) in Saudi Arabia.

Because both players advanced through the tournament undefeated, the purse on offer was a unprecedented £3.98m – the biggest payout awarded in WTA the sport's history.

The prize money exceeds the £3.74m the Belarusian earned for winning September's New York major, which was the highest-paying Grand Slam in the current year.

"This has been an incredible tournament," commented Rybakina.

"I honestly didn't expect any result so to win the title was just incredible."

"I want to say praise to Sabalenka for holding the top spot for a second year running, it's an incredible accomplishment."

Rybakina, who was the sixth-ranked player, hit sixteen winners during a impressive first-set performance.

The 2022 Wimbledon winner fended off a couple of break points before taking every point in the sixth game to go a break up and served out to seal the first set.

With the second set on serve, the world number one saved two break points at four-all to swing the momentum in her favor.

But, after fighting back to disrupt her opponent's flow, Sabalenka failed to capitalize by squandering a pair of chances in the following game to level the set at five-all.

Her inability to level the match impacted her tie-break play, with the Kazakh winning all seven points to take home the championship.

This win, her sixth triumph over her rival, means she will move up one place in the rankings to number five in the world rankings.

An emotional Sabalenka was seen crying as she sat with her coaching team shortly after the final.

"That was not the finest performance from me today but Rybakina you were certainly the better competitor," Sabalenka told the audience.

"You really smashed me on court. I'm happy to see you at your peak. Enjoy this beautiful title."