Aryna Sabalenka claimed not only her second consecutive US Open title at Flushing Meadows, but also a hefty cheque to the tune of five million US dollars.
The prize money for both the men’s and women’s singles champions in New York was boosted by 39% from 2024, up from the three and a half million the two winners received last year.
When Sabalenka defeated Amanda Anisimova in the final, she became the first woman to defend the US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014.
With her triumph, she is also now closing in on another one of Williams’ records, the most WTA prize money earned in a single season, which she could surpass by the end of 2025.
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty ImagesAryna Sabalenka is likely to break Serena Williams’ prize money record
In 2013, the 23-time Grand Slam champion raked in a grand total of $12,385,572 during the course of the season, an all-time record which hasn’t been touched in 12 years.
That year, Williams won two major titles at Roland Garros and the US Open, and had her best run on the WTA 1000 circuit, clinching five crowns at the level, and reaching two finals.
Over the last decade, a handful of stars have come close to matching her sizable tally, including Ashleigh Barty in 2019, Angelique Kerber in 2016, and Serena herself in 2015.
This season, however, Sabalenka is likely to break Williams’ 2013 record, having already picked up $12,133,419 in 2025.
PlayerYearWTA Prize MoneySerena Williams2013$12,385,572Aryna Sabalenka2025$12,133,419Ashleigh Barty2019$11,307,587Serena Williams2015$10,582,642Angelique Kerber2016$10,136,615
Sabalenka’s earnings have come largely from her successful campaigns at Grand Slams, having reached two finals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, the semifinals at Wimbledon, before going all the way at the US Open.
Her runner-up finishes in Melbourne and Paris combined for a total of $2,762,469, while her final-four placement in South West London resulted in a cheque for $1,053,533.
WTA stars in recent years with the most prize money in a season
Outside of Sabalenka, a number of WTA stars have put up big totals in recent years, including Iga Swiatek, who has accumulated at least eight million in four different seasons on the tour.
Swiatek’s best year was 2022, when, after winning both Roland Garros and the US Open, the Pole earned $9,875,525 in prize money.
The world number two tallied $9,857,686 in 2023, $8,550,693 in 2024, and $9,067,057 so far this year.
Meanwhile, two-time major champion Coco Gauff had her highest-earning season in 2024, with $9,353,847.