Elena Rybakina has taken the top spot in the newly launched 2026 PIF Race to the WTA Finals after winning the Australian Open. Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina follow closely in second and third places, respectively, following a strong start to the season. The leaderboard update comes after five WTA tournaments and the first Grand Slam of the year.
The WTA announced the first official leaderboard update for the 2026 PIF Race to the WTA Finals on February 4, marking the start of the competition for qualification to the season-ending event in Riyadh. Reigning WTA Finals champion Elena Rybakina sits at No. 1 with 2,108 points, earned from 108 points for her quarterfinal run at the WTA 500 Brisbane International and 2,000 points for defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final to claim her second Grand Slam title.
Sabalenka holds second place with 1,800 points, combining 500 points from her Brisbane title win and 1,300 for her Australian Open runner-up finish. Elina Svitolina is third with 1,030 points after securing her 19th career title at the WTA 250 ASB Classic in Auckland and reaching the semifinals in Melbourne, her best Grand Slam result to date.
Jessica Pegula ranks fourth with 975 points from semifinals at both Brisbane and the Australian Open. Mirra Andreeva is fifth on 848 points, having won the WTA 500 Adelaide International before a last-16 exit in Melbourne. Victoria Mboko follows in sixth with 847 points from the Adelaide final loss, a fourth-round Australian Open appearance, and United Cup contributions. Iva Jovic is seventh with 691 points from semifinals in Auckland, the Hobart final, and Australian Open quarterfinals. Belinda Bencic rounds out the top eight at 625 points, boosted by five United Cup wins before a second-round loss in Melbourne.
Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are tied for ninth with 580 points each. The top eight singles players and doubles teams will qualify for the WTA Finals in Riyadh from November 7 to 14, played on indoor hard courts at King Saud University Indoor Arena. A Grand Slam winner ranked 8th to 20th secures the final spot. In doubles, Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic lead with over 1,600 points from semifinals in Brisbane and Adelaide, plus an Australian Open runner-up finish.
Upcoming events in the Middle East Swing, including the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, Qatar TotalEnergies Open, and Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, offer key points in the race.