Elena Rybakina: As the 2026 tennis season reaches its stride, the financial leaderboard of the WTA Tour reflects a shifting landscape of dominance. Following a spectacular victory at the Australian Open, Elena Rybakina has firmly established herself as the tour’s top earner for the year.
Her triumph in Melbourne—marking her second Grand Slam title—combined with deep runs in Brisbane and Doha, has pushed her 2026 prize money to an impressive $2,822,932. Rybakina’s “ice-cool” consistency has allowed her to maintain a significant lead over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who currently sits in the second spot.
The Top 10 WTA Earners (As of February 2026)
The 2026 season has already seen six women cross the $1 million prize money milestone. Notable surges include Czech star Karolína Muchová, who leaped into the top five after her WTA 1000 victory at the Qatar Open, and 19-year-old Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko, who has become the season’s breakout star.
| Rank | Player | Nationality | Total Earnings (USD) | Key 2026 Achievement |
| 1 | Elena Rybakina | KAZ | $2,822,932 | Australian Open Champion |
| 2 | Aryna Sabalenka | — | $1,614,297 | Australian Open Runner-up |
| 3 | Coco Gauff | USA | $1,071,715 | United Cup Semi-finalist |
| 4 | Iga Swiatek | POL | $1,070,965 | United Cup Champion |
| 5 | Karolína Muchová | CZE | $1,060,691 | Qatar Open Champion |
| 6 | Victoria Mboko | CAN | $1,012,729 | Qatar Open Runner-up |
| 7 | Elise Mertens | BEL | $940,600 | Aus. Open Doubles Champion |
| 8 | Belinda Bencic | SUI | $932,369 | Consistent Hard Court Wins |
| 9 | Jessica Pegula | USA | $900,633 | Aus. Open Quarter-finalist |
| 10 | Elina Svitolina | UKR | $896,925 | Auckland Champion |
Analysis of the 2026 Financial Race
- The Rybakina Factor: Rybakina’s earnings are a testament to her high-stakes efficiency. By winning the Australian Open, she secured nearly $2.7 million in a single fortnight. Interestingly, she is also coming off a record-breaking 2025 where she earned over $5 million at the WTA Finals, making her the wealthiest player on tour over the last six months.
- The Rise of Victoria Mboko: Perhaps the biggest story of 2026 is the ascent of Canada’s Victoria Mboko. Having reached the finals in both Adelaide and Doha, she is the youngest player in the top 10 and has already eclipsed the $1 million mark before the end of February.
- Doubles Still Matter: Elise Mertens proves that doubles remains a lucrative path; roughly $291,339 of her earnings came from her doubles triumph in Melbourne alongside Zhang Shuai.
- The United Cup Influence: For stars like Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, the lucrative United Cup in January provided a massive head start. Swiatek earned nearly half a million dollars just from leading Poland to the title.
As the tour moves into the prestigious “Sunshine Double” (Indian Wells and Miami), these figures are expected to skyrocket. With $1,000,000+ checks waiting for the winners in the U.S., the race for the 2026 prize money crown is only just beginning.
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