WTA Prize Money Leaders Update | Muchova and Mboko break $1M as Rybakina holds top spot

We reached mid-February and the WTA season continues advancing, with the prize money leaders updating with several movements – especially after the first WTA 1000 of the year at the Qatar Open, where Czech player Karolina Muchova ended up claiming the title by defeating teenager Victoria Mboko in the final.

Precisely Muchova and Mboko are the names that benefited the most in terms of prize money this past week, moving into the top-6 – only behind the 5 current leaders of the Tour (both in ranking and prize money).

The first place is held by Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, who even increased her distance over her immediate pursuers following a deep run in Doha.

The Kazakh reached the quarterfinals in Brisbane and Doha, in addition to her title at the first major of the year. Although her 9-match winning streak was cut, she remains more than $1 million ahead of second place Aryan Sabalenka ($1.6M) – and with the Belarusian’s absence confirmed in Dubai this week, the gaps will be even larger next week.

In any case, the podium remains intact with the same protagonists, with Coco Gauff staying in third place, practically tied with Iga Swiatek (with less than $1,000 difference). The American was eliminated early in the first round in Qatar and saw Swiatek closing in – threatening to push her out of the top-3.

Despite doubts about the Polish player’s level, she reached the quarterfinals in Qatar, earning her almost $100K to add to her wallet and allowing her to surpass $1 million in earnings this week.

In fact, there are only 6 players who have already surpassed $1 million in earnings – the last two to achieve it were precisely the protagonists of the Doha final. Muchova finally lifted her first WTA 1000 title and only the second trophy of her career, which earned her more than $600K in prize money – quickly placing her inside the top-5 in prize money for the season.

The runner-up, Mboko, took $385K in what was her second final of the year, rising to the top-6. For the Canadian, she totals $986K in singles earnings – but a couple of doubles appearances give her a final boost to surpass the $1 million mark this year.

In the top-10, doubles world No. 1 Elise Mertens sneaks in – accumulating almost $300K in doubles earnings, which add to her nearly $650K in singles. The Belgian has been consistent in singles and dominant in doubles. If we considered only her singles performance, she would barely make the top-10 – which is already notable for Mertens – but combined with her strong doubles presence, she is able to rise much higher.

Lower down is Belinda Bencic – largely thanks to her remarkable campaign at the United Cup – and closing the top-10 are the Australian Open semifinalists: Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina, who have been consistent at the start of the year – especially the Ukrainian, who also won her first title of the season at the WTA 250 ASB Classic earlier this year.