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

Tuesday, 03 February 2026 at 17:16

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina embracing at the net in the WTA Finals

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.

AO semifinalists and teen sensations among top earners

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.

Year to Date Prize Money Leaders

Rank	Player	Singles	Doubles	Total
1	Rybakina, Elena	2,724,432		2,724,432
2	Sabalenka, Aryna	1,606,482	7,815	1,614,297
3	Gauff, Coco	1,039,965		1,039,965
4	Swiatek, Iga	972,465		972,465
5	Bencic, Belinda	932,369		932,369
6	Mertens, Elise	623,261	291,339	914,600
7	Pegula, Jessica	886,390	14,243	900,633
8	Svitolina, Elina	846,665	1,010	847,675
9	Mboko, Victoria	601,261	20,717	621,978
10	Jovic, Iva	520,021	22,912	542,933
11	Andreeva, Mirra	533,901	7,815	541,716
12	Paolini, Jasmine	513,192	20,717	533,909
13	Anisimova, Amanda	505,474		505,474
14	Krejcikova, Barbora	446,178		446,178
15	Zhang, Shuai	115,248	327,404	442,652
16	Muchova, Karolina	387,876	7,815	395,691
17	Osaka, Naomi	382,192		382,192
18	Keys, Madison	381,876		381,876
19	Wang, Xinyu	337,171	16,563	353,734
20	Putintseva, Yulia	342,291		342,291
21	Inglis, Maddison	310,761	14,243	325,004
22	Shnaider, Diana	298,104	14,243	312,347
23	Sakkari, Maria	300,369		300,369
24	Ostapenko, Jelena	172,104	99,486	271,590
25	Hunter, Storm	237,669	29,781	267,450
26	Tauson, Clara	238,627	26,012	264,639
27	Potapova, Anastasia	238,627	20,717	259,344
28	Raducanu, Emma	258,694		258,694
29	Kalinskaya, Anna	243,722	14,243	257,965
30	Baptiste, Hailey	227,177	29,781	256,958
31	Noskova, Linda	232,101	19,538	251,639
32	Stearns, Peyton	219,542	29,781	249,323
33	Linette, Magda	226,242	22,027	248,269
34	Siniakova, Katerina	163,464	81,916	245,380
35	Valentova, Tereza	241,907	3,400	245,307
36	Ruse, Elena-Gabriela	236,812		236,812
37	Birrell, Kimberly	176,851	59,841	236,692
38	Joint, Maya	202,588	33,181	235,769
39	Kostyuk, Marta	231,713		231,713
40	Lys, Eva	208,113	14,243	222,356
41	Sonmez, Zeynep	222,147		222,147
42	Selekhmeteva, Oksana	220,372		220,372
43	Bouzas Maneiro, Jessica	205,178	14,243	219,421
44	Gibson, Talia	160,654	57,751	218,405
45	Bartunkova, Nikola	214,447		214,447
46	Sierra, Solana	197,698	14,668	212,366
47	Pliskova, Karolina	212,192		212,192
48	Bouzkova, Marie	177,199	26,292	203,491
49	Preston, Taylah	167,955	22,027	189,982
50	Cirstea, Sorana	174,178	14,243	188,421
51	Krunic, Aleksandra	4,400	182,864	187,264
52	Badosa, Paula	178,278	7,815	186,093
53	Siegemund, Laura	150,069	33,181	183,250
54	Danilina, Anna	182,864		182,864
55	Jacquemot, Elsa	160,654	20,717	181,371
56	Bondar, Anna	164,614	14,243	178,857
57	Tomljanovic, Ajla	177,199		177,199
58	Kessler, Mccartney	162,469	14,243	176,712
59	Krueger, Ashlyn	161,989	14,243	176,232
60	Li, Ann	161,874	14,243	176,117
61	Tjen, Janice Ina	151,799	23,238	175,037
62	Danilovic, Olga	152,694	20,717	173,411
63	Hon, Priscilla	150,784	22,058	172,842
64	Bucsa, Cristina	110,848	60,196	171,044
65	Mcnally, Caty	151,799	16,438	168,237
66	Kudermetova, Polina	167,369	580	167,949
67	Samsonova, Liudmila	147,453	19,538	166,991
68	Parks, Alycia	150,994	14,243	165,237
69	Frech, Magdalena	163,689		163,689
70	Kenin, Sofia	123,548	38,476	162,024
71	Cristian, Jaqueline	142,508	14,243	156,751
72	Cocciaretto, Elisabetta	138,788	14,243	153,031
73	Lamens, Suzan	138,573	14,243	152,816
74	Marcinko, Petra	152,214		152,214
75	Gracheva, Varvara	151,799	1	151,800
76	Alexandrova, Ekaterina	129,722	22,058	151,780
77	Uchijima, Moyuka	151,024		151,024
78	Grabher, Julia	150,994		150,994
79	Townsend, Taylor	97,113	51,146	148,259
80	Kasatkina, Daria	126,828	20,717	147,545
81	Bai, Zhuoxuan	145,669		145,669
82	Fruhvirtova, Linda	145,669		145,669
83	Klimovicova, Linda	145,669		145,669
84	Yastremska, Dayana	129,722	14,243	143,965
85	Fernandez, Leylah	123,548	19,818	143,366
86	Jones, Emerson	123,548	14,243	137,791
87	Rakhimova, Kamilla	115,668	20,717	136,385
88	Blinkova, Anna	113,433	20,717	134,150
89	Navarro, Emma	133,653		133,653
90	Osorio, Camila	118,743	14,243	132,986
91	Arango, Emiliana	112,098	20,717	132,815
92	Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia	109,033	20,717	129,750
93	Maria, Tatjana	115,318	14,243	129,561
94	Eala, Alexandra	112,894	16,438	129,332
95	Ruzic, Antonia	114,559	14,243	128,802
96	Sramkova, Rebecca	113,318	14,243	127,561
97	Zarazua, Renata	110,156	15,553	125,709
98	Volynets, Katie	110,133	14,243	124,376
99	Zhu, Lin	123,510	425	123,935
100	Waltert, Simona	107,373	14,243	121,616

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Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

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