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Elena Rybakina secured the largest payday in WTA all time by overcoming top-ranked Sabalenka in two sets at the championship.

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

Since both players advanced through the event undefeated, the purse on offer was a record-breaking £3.98m – the highest prize offering in women's tennis the sport's history.

The reward exceeds the £3.74m the Belarusian won for winning the New York major, which was the highest-paying major tournament in the current year.

"It's been an fantastic week," said Rybakina.

"I honestly didn't expect this outcome so to reach the final was just unbelievable."

"Let me offer congratulations to Sabalenka for holding the top spot for a second consecutive year running, it's an incredible accomplishment."

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

Rybakina fended off two chances before taking all four points in the sixth game of the set to go a break up and held her serve to seal the first set.

With the second set on serve, Sabalenka defended another two break points at 4-4 to shift the balance in her favor.

However, having worked so hard to disrupt her opponent's flow, Sabalenka failed to capitalize by squandering a pair of set points in the next game to level the set at five-all.

Her inability to level the match impacted her tie-break performance, with the Kazakh taking every point to take home the title.

This win, her sixth triumph over her rival, means she will rise one place in the WTA rankings to fifth in the world rankings.

A distraught Sabalenka was seen crying as she met with her coaching team shortly after the final.

"It was not the best performance from me today but Rybakina you were definitely the superior competitor," Sabalenka told the audience.

"You literally overpowered me out of the court. I'm happy to see you at your peak. Celebrate this stunning title."