WTA Prize Money Leaders Update | Rybakina leads Sabalenka by over $1 Million as Gauff cracks the top-3

After the first Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open, Elena Rybakina has taken the top spot in the 2026 Prize Money Leaders race—earning over $2.7 million and surpassing World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who now has just over $1.6 million.

While the Australian Open accounts for the bulk of prize money awarded so far, a handful of WTA 500 and WTA 250 events, along with the United Cup, have already contributed significant earnings to several players. The United Cup in particular has helped some of the top-ranked prize money leaders start 2026 on a strong note.

Coco Gauff combines her United Cup results—three wins and one loss—with her Australian Open run to the quarterfinals to surpass $1 million in earnings, claiming third place. She sits just ahead of Iga Swiatek, who posted similar results: a 3-1 record in the United Cup and a quarterfinal finish in Melbourne.

Fifth place goes to Belinda Bencic, who enjoyed a perfect United Cup campaign (5-0) but was eliminated early in the second round of the Australian Open. The Swiss star not only entered the WTA top 10 but also ranks among the highest-earning players in the first month of competition, surpassing $900k in prize money.

Inside the top 10, there are some surprises, such as Belgian Elise Mertens, who climbs to sixth place. Beyond her early-season singles results—which earned her just over $600k—she won the Australian Open doubles title, reaching World No. 1 in the category. Thanks to her doubles dominance combined with solid singles campaigns, Mertens has now earned more than $900k.

Other top-10 players include Australian Open semifinalists Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina, as well as teenagers Victoria Mboko (Adelaide runner-up, Round of 16 in Melbourne) and Iva Jovic (Auckland runner-up and first Grand Slam quarterfinal in Melbourne).

Additional notable names in the high-earning zone include Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, and Amanda Anisimova, all of whom achieved victories at the Australian Open and have passed $500k in earnings, although they did not go as deep in the tournament as they might have hoped. Barbora Krejcikova and veteran Zhang Shuai are also in the top 15, with Zhang winning the Australian Open doubles alongside Elise Mertens.