Reasons why Sabalenka, Swiatek, and several top players lost points on the WTA rankings
Several leading names in women’s tennis, including Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, will lose points on the year-end rankings due to non-compliance with mandatory WTA rules. This is a strict policy that the organization has long enforced to maintain fairness and ensure full attendance at major events within the tour.
According to WTA regulations, players ranked in the top 10 worldwide must participate in at least six WTA 500 tournaments — a category just below Grand Slams and Masters 1000 in ranking points. However, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, and Madison Keys all failed to fulfill this obligation.
Sabalenka, the current world number one, competed in only three WTA 500 tournaments in 2025, winning the Brisbane International. Similarly, Swiatek played three events and claimed the Korea Open title. Gauff and Anisimova had similar schedules, while Keys took part in four tournaments. None of them appeared at the Ningbo Open, the final WTA 500 event of the year.
Consequently, the WTA decided to deduct 10 points from Sabalenka, Gauff, and Anisimova; 65 points from Swiatek; and 54 points from Keys. Still, these penalties are not expected to significantly impact their current rankings ahead of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sabalenka (left) and Swiatek had points deducted on the WTA rankings
Importantly, a similar case previously reversed the 2024 battle for world number one when Swiatek lost points for playing only two WTA 500 events, allowing Sabalenka to move up to the top spot. Because of this, top players have expressed dissatisfaction with this rule.
Swiatek openly criticized the WTA system, calling the requirement to compete in six 500-level tournaments "unrealistic" given the current congested schedule. "No one can properly organize their calendar if they have to play six 500 events. We need to prioritize health over just chasing points," the Polish star stated at the China Open.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka — the 2025 US Open champion — is maintaining consistent form and is likely to finish the year as world number one for the second year running. After exiting in the Wuhan Open semifinals, she is training in Dubai with her close friend Paula Badosa to get ready for the final major tournament of the year.
Anisimova, Swiatek, and Gauff are also taking short breaks before the WTA Finals, while Keys has returned to training in Florida following an early exit at the US Open.
Although these penalties do not change the top rankings, the incident has once again sparked debate about balancing competitive commitments with athlete health amid the increasingly packed and demanding WTA schedule.
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