Elena Rybakina's WTA Finals withdrawal will cost her huge sum amid 35% decrease in prize money

The cost of Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal from the WTA Finals through viral illness has been revealed - and it’s a staggering amount, despite the prize fund’s 35 per cent decrease from 2025.

Rybakina won two Grand Slam titles in 2026 - the Australian and US Opens - and secured her place as world No. 1 in October, ending Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week grip on the position.

On the WTA Finals’ eve, the 27-year-old tennis star withdrew from the end-of-year event; and the cost to her bank account, despite a 35 per cent price pot reduction, is staggering.

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Cost of Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal from WTA Finals revealed amid prize money drop

Rybakina previously won the 2025 Finals and became the most affluent champion in end-of-year WTA event history.

In 2026, the prize pot has seen a 35.48% reduction from the $15.5million on offer in 2025, totaling the entire money pool at $10million this year.

Still, the cost to Rybakina’s bank account, even as a two-time Slam champion in 2026, will be staggering, missing out on a guaranteed $220,000 for ‘round robin’ participation alone.

As world No. 1 and reigning Finals champion, the 27-year-old was strongly tipped to prevail at the WTA end-of-year event, and, as a result, her winnings would have increased.

For each ‘round robin’ phase victory, Rybakina would have pocketed an additional $230,000, bringing her Finals group-stage earnings to almost $1million, per the WTA Finals website.

By winning her semi-final and final match-ups, the world No. 1 would have earned $820,000 and $1.64 million, respectively, bringing Rybakina’s projected ‘undefeated champion’ earnings to $3.37 million.

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Why has the WTA Finals’ prize money in 2026 been reduced, and why did Elena Rybakina withdraw?

In 2024, the WTA Finals saw a dramatic uptick in prize earnings, jumping from $9 million the year prior to $15.25 million – an almost 70 per cent increase.

In 2025, that prize pot increased by an additional $250,000; Rybakina walked away with earnings of nearly $5.25 million as the Finals’ undefeated champion.

That was more, hundreds of thousands of dollars more, to be precise, than the winnings secured by male Finals winner Jannik Sinner in 2025.

The men’s end-of-year event in Turin will see its participants earn more than WTA athletes in 2026; Taylor Fritz is all too aware, having lost out on staggering paydays by failing to secure Finals qualification in Paris versus Carlos Alcaraz.

Rybakina lifted the end-of-year trophy in Riyadh, where it was also held in 2024. That venue, given the financial incentives of Saudi-hosted events, explains the Finals’ historic prize pot.

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On her withdrawal from the end-of-year event, the world No. 1 said: "I am really sad to inform all my fans and supporters that I unfortunately have to withdraw from the WTA Finals this year.

"I've had an incredible season but my body is just not physically ready to compete,” continued Rybakina, who will not defend her title in Indian Wells.

"I'm going to spend some time resting and recovering at home and getting myself ready for the 2027 season."