Under the dazzling lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, top seed Sabalenka defeated eighth seed Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) to successfully defend her US Open women's singles crown, claiming her fourth Grand Slam title in her career and achieving the milestone of 100 Grand Slam match wins. This victory not only reinforced her dominance in women's tennis but also elevated her to the pinnacle of tennis earnings history.

Sabalenka has delivered an almost flawless season; the US Open final marked her third Grand Slam final appearance this year. After narrowly missing out on titles at the Australian Open and French Open, she showcased her strength as the top seed in her third final of the season, especially with her composure in the second-set tiebreak, which decisively crushed Anisimova’s hopes of a comeback.

“Every time I stand here, it feels so special,” Sabalenka said during the trophy ceremony. “Anisimova played exceptionally well today, so I had to bring my best to win. This title means a lot to me.”

With her US Open victory, Sabalenka earned the highest-ever tournament prize money of $5 million, pushing her total earnings this season beyond $12 million, a personal record. Even more impressive, her career prize money has reached $42,300,521, officially surpassing many legends and placing her fourth on the WTA all-time earnings list!

The top five on the WTA all-time prize money list are as follows:

1. Serena Williams - $94,816,730

2. Venus Williams - $42,867,364

3. Iga Swiatek - $42,595,015

4. Sabalenka - $42,300,521

5. Simona Halep - $40,236,618

It is noteworthy that Sabalenka is very close to the second and third spots on this list. Given her current pace of winning titles, she is well-positioned to surpass Venus Williams and Swiatek next year, potentially moving up to second place in history.

Sabalenka’s successful US Open title defense signals that the new generation of women’s tennis has fully taken over the sport. Her powerful style, relentless determination, and continuous improvement make her one of the most dominant players today. Four Grand Slam titles and 100 Grand Slam wins are just chapters in her legendary career.

As this season nears its end, Sabalenka is already setting her sights on the next year: “I love competing and love this sport. I will keep working hard to earn more honors.” This Belarusian powerhouse’s ambition and skill are reshaping the landscape of women’s tennis.

Under the New York night sky, Sabalenka lifted not only the champion’s trophy but also the banner of a new era. Her success proves that the competitiveness and commercial value of women's tennis have reached unprecedented heights, and she herself is the brightest star of this golden age.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Mei)