Elena Rybakina receives biggest winner's cheque in tennis history after winning US Open

Elena Rybakina has received the biggest winner's cheque in tennis history after defeating Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open.

Rybakina denied Sabalenka a third consecutive US Open crown at New York's Flushing Meadows to add another Grand Slam title to her collection.

And as well as lifting the trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Kazakhstani star has made history by collecting the largest winner's prize ever awarded in tennis.

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Elena Rybakina earns biggest winner's cheque in tennis history

The 2026 US Open offered the largest player compensation package in tennis history, with a record £80million available across the Grand Slam. It represented a 20 per cent increase from the prize pot last year.

Men and women receive the same prize money, meaning Rybakina has collected a record cheque for being crowned women's champion, with the winner of the men's final between Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev set to earn the same amount.

Rybakina has earned around £4million for her victory, while runner-up Sabalenka receives around half of that at £2million.

Last year, Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz, who claimed the women's and men's singles titles respectively, took home £3.7million each at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Every player who made it into the 128-player singles draw will earn a minimum of £103,000, which is also a record for a tennis event.

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Aryna Sabalenka and fellow tennis stars’ fight for greater prize pots at Grand Slams

Throughout the 2026 season, Sabalenka, along with several other tennis stars, have been campaigning for a higher percentage of the revenue generated by the four majors, as well as benefit contributions and a greater say in areas such as scheduling.

Sabalenka has been one of the most outspoken stars about this issue, arguing that it was to help improve the welfare of lower-ranked players.

A number of top players have been in dispute with the Grand Slam tournaments for over a year after sending a signed letter requesting the Grand Slams to allocate more of their tournament revenues to prize money and contribute to player welfare initiatives.

The Belarusian believed that as World No. 1, she had to use her position to help those she claims to be fighting for.

Ahead of the French Open, she said: “I feel like the whole point here, it’s not about me. It’s about the players who are lower in the ranking, who are suffering. It’s not easy to live in this tennis world with that percentage that we are earning.

“As the world No. 1, I feel like I have to stand up and to fight for those players, for lower-level players, for players who are coming back after injuries, the upcoming generation. I feel like our point is pretty clear and pretty fair to everyone. That’s what we are all about.”

The fund at Roland Garros increased by 9.5% - but the players believed that is some way below the 22% of tournament revenue they feel they are entitled to; however, they appeared happier with the growth of prize money at the US Open.