Rise to the top: Aryna Sabalenka only fifth player under 30 to earn over $20 million in prize money

Aryna Sabalenka is back to being World No.2 after failing in her quest to reach the final of the WTA Finals to keep World No.1. But despite that, her career prize money haul did reach a new milestone in Cancun.

Sabalenka left the WTA Finals, a tournament that she didn't hold back on in terms of organisation of with a handy sum of $648,000, which took her career prize money to past the $20 million mark being only the fifth player to achieve this feat.

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Sabalenka's career earnings now sit relatively early into her career at $20,377,563 joining Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, Ashleigh Barty and Iga Swiatek on that list. She is also the 24th player overall to achieve this figure and has now eclipsed Sam Stosur into 23rd spot all time after two wins in the round robin stage of the WTA Finals.

She eventually lost to Iga Swiatek, who knocked Sabalenka from top spot in the rankings and of course as the imperious World No.1 for some time has long been on that list for surpassing over $20m. It has been the best season to date for Sabalenka overall.

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Best year of Sabalenka's career?

After doubts about her double faulting and serve, Sabalenka came out with a bang in 2023 winning the Australian Open defeating future rival, Elena Rybakina and finished 55-14 for the year. This is despite perceived missed chances at the US Open and Roland Garros in particular.

At the US Open, she lost in the final to home hope, Coco Gauff having a mid match meltdown against the American. While she sat on the verge against Karolina Muchova at Roland Garros but went on to lose the semi-finals as the Czech ace achieved a career best albeit she went on to lose to the imperious Swiatek.

A lot of the discourse though throughout the season pertained to Sabalenka becoming World No.1 and it very much being an inevitability. In the end after all of the can she, it was given to her almost instead of being earned by reaching a Grand Slam final.

But she was the only player who made the semi-final or better at all four Grand Slam tournaments this season and so showed her consistency and excellence over a sustained period.