Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka , the two dominant forces atop women’s tennis — have once again found themselves at the center of controversy. Both have been penalized by the WTA for failing to meet their mandatory WTA 500 tournament commitments during the 2025 season, despite their repeated calls for a lighter, more balanced calendar.
Last month, Swiatek openly voiced her growing concerns about player health after sustaining multiple injuries during the China Open. “Maybe I will have to choose some tournaments and skip them, even though they are mandatory,” the world No. 2 admitted. Her sentiments were echoed by world No. 1 Sabalenka, who called the tour’s schedule “crazy” and “really tough to handle.”
But while both players warned of burnout, the WTA responded with penalties rather than leniency. According to the tour’s regulations, top players must compete in at least six WTA 500 events each season unless granted exemption due to injury or personal reasons. Failure to comply results in “zero-pointers,” where ranking points from a higher-level event are replaced with zeros — a rule designed to ensure fairness and consistent participation from top-ranked stars.
As the 2025 season nears its conclusion, the WTA’s final rankings update before the Finals has delivered a major hit. Polish journalist Dominik Senkowski confirmed that Sabalenka and Swiatek were docked 520 and 508 points, respectively. “I have received confirmation from the WTA that Sabalenka will have 9,870 points tomorrow and Iga will have 8,195,” Senkowski revealed on X. “Aryna will lose 120 points for Dubai and 400 for the WTA Finals, while Iga will lose 108 for Stuttgart and 400 for the WTA Finals.”
The updated rankings underline the cost of their protest. Sabalenka now stands at 9,870 points, maintaining her No. 1 spot, while Swiatek trails at 8,195. The pair have collectively lost over 1,000 points, yet their positions atop the leaderboard remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff — who escaped any penalties this week — holds firm at No. 3 with 6,563 points. Despite dropping 1,300 points from her 2024 WTA Finals title defense, she remains the top-ranked American, comfortably ahead of compatriots Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula. For Anisimova to surpass her, she must reach at least the semi-finals at the Finals; Pegula, on the other hand, would need a perfect title run and a Gauff collapse to have a mathematical chance.
With the gap between Sabalenka and the rest of the field now insurmountable, the Belarusian has officially locked in the year-end world No. 1 ranking — the ultimate reward for a season of consistency and dominance.
For Swiatek and Sabalenka, however, the penalties highlight a deeper issue within the WTA’s system. Both have long advocated for a revised calendar to reduce player fatigue and injury risk — a stance that has drawn admiration from younger players but little movement from governing officials.
As the season closes with the WTA Finals, their situation serves as a stark reminder: in the demanding world of professional tennis, even the brightest stars aren’t exempt from the rulebook.
