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Rybakina secured the biggest reward in women's tennis all time by overcoming world number one Aryna Sabalenka in two sets at the championship.

The 26-year-old produced a impressive display to overcome four-time Grand Slam champion her opponent in two sets in Saudi Arabia.

Since both players advanced through the tournament without a loss, the prize money on offer was a historic £3.98 million – the largest prize awarded in WTA the sport's history.

The reward tops the £3.74m the Belarusian won for winning the US Open, which was the highest-paying Grand Slam in the current year.

"It's been an fantastic tournament," said the Kazakh player.

"Truly couldn't have predicted any result so to win the title was just remarkable."

"Let me offer praise to Aryna for being number one for a second consecutive year in a row, it's an incredible achievement."

Rybakina, who was the world number six, hit sixteen winners during a impressive first-set display.

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

With the second set on serve, the world number one defended two opportunities at 4-4 to swing the momentum in her favor.

However, having worked so hard to disrupt Rybakina's rhythm, Sabalenka let her opponent off the hook by squandering two set points in the following game to level the set at 5-5.

Her inability to level the match impacted her tie-break performance, with Rybakina taking all seven points to win the title.

The victory, Rybakina's sixth over her rival, means she will rise one spot in the rankings to number five in the world rankings.

A distraught the runner-up appeared to be in tears as she met with her coaching team soon after the final.

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

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