Aryna Sabalenka has just broken one of Serena Williams' all-time records with her first win at the WTA Finals

Aryna Sabalenka got off to a strong start at the WTA Finals, winning her first round robin clash in straight sets.

The Belarusian, who received the year-end number one trophy prior to her match, beat Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-1 to open her account in Riyadh.

Sabalenka is in the Stefanie Graf group at the WTA Finals, which consists of Paolini, Jessica Pegula, and the 2024 winner, Coco Gauff.

Despite being one of the best players on the tour for a while now, the world number one has never clinched the WTA Finals title.

As well as sealing an opening victory against Paolini, Sabalenka has just broken one of Serena Williams‘ all-time records.

Aryna Sabalenka surpasses Serena Williams’ prize money record

Both Sabalenka and Paolini raked in $355,000 (US Dollars) just for appearing in their bout at the WTA Finals.

For the four-time Grand Slam champion, however, her win against the Italian meant she collected an additional $355,000.

Her prize money earnings on the WTA Tour this season have now reached a total of $13,008,519, which is an all-time record.

Sabalenka surpasses Williams for the most prize money won in a single WTA season, beating the American legend’s 2013 campaign, in which she earned $12,385,572.

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In 2013, Williams had one of her best seasons on tour, winning three Grand Slam titles and two WTA 1000 crowns.

Sabalenka’s 2025 season has featured a US Open triumph, two major runner-up finishes, as well as two WTA 1000 titles.

Aryna Sabalenka’s record at the WTA Finals over the years

This year marks Sabalenka’s fifth appearance at the WTA Finals, having recorded her first run at the year-end tournament in 2021.

That season, she went out in the group stage, losing round-robin clashes with Paula Badosa and Maria Sakkari, and winning just one match against Iga Swiatek.

In 2022, Sabalenka made the final, becoming the fourth player in the Open Era to defeat the world’s top-three-ranked players at the same tournament, with wins over Ons Jabeur, Pegula, and Swiatek.

She ultimately suffered a straight-set defeat to Caroline Garcia in the championship match, however, losing 7-6, 6-4.

Sabalenka made back-to-back semifinals in 2023 and 2024, and now she will look to finally go all the way in 2025.

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