It’s been a big few weeks for tennis, with two announcements that could shape the sport’s future.
From 2027, the combined Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 events will offer equal prize money. Players like Aryna Sabalenka will earn the same as their ATP counterparts at Indian Wells, the Miami Open, the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open.
The newly formed Grand Slam Players’ Council has also begun taking shape. The Belarusian is one of the six WTA members, alongside Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina, Iva Jovic, and Maria Sakkari.
After Sabalenka defeated Renata Zarazua in her first match at the China Open, she was asked to comment on the two big announcements.
Aryna Sabalenka is ‘super happy’ with the WTA 1000 equal pay commitment
“Of course, I’m happy with that. This is something we’ve been pushing for. I feel like we all deserve to be paid equally. This is good news. I’m pretty sure about all of the players. I don’t know about men, but all of the women are super happy with that,” said Sabalenka when asked how much the equal pay commitment means to players.
Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner are the top two earners in tennis this year. Sabalenka sits fourth in the rankings, having pocketed $8,047,378 in 2026.
Top 10 earners (2026)
| Rank | Player | ATP/WTA | 2026 Prize money |
| 1 | Alexander Zverev | ATP | $14,694,899 |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | ATP | $11,607,658 |
| 3 | Elena Rybakina | WTA | $10,879,335 |
| 4 | Aryna Sabalenka | WTA | $8,047,378 |
| 5 | Linda Noskova | WTA | $7,490,989 |
| 6 | Coco Gauff | WTA | $6,971,776 |
| 7 | Mirra Andreeva | WTA | $6,540,275 |
| 8 | Ben Shelton | ATP | $6,436,603 |
| 9 | Jessica Pegula | WTA | $5,733,469 |
| 10 | Carlos Alcaraz | ATP | $5,145,354 |
The world number two was also asked for her thoughts on the Grand Slam Players’ Council, having recently been confirmed as a member of the ground-breaking organisation.
“It’s amazing. This is something that we probably all needed for so long. Now we have our council. We have our opinion to throw in, I don’t know, to transfer the opinion of the players. This is something amazing. This is something definitely, like, to improve everything in the future,” said Sabalenka.
Never afraid to fight for what she believes in, Sabalenka participated in media protests at Grand Slams earlier this year. The protests aimed to pressure Grand Slams to increase their revenue shares.
As a member of the Grand Slam Players’ Council, Sabalenka should have a greater input in key decisions. Whether they make enough progress to satisfy Sabalenka and her colleagues remains to be seen.
Aryna Sabalenka insists she is ‘fresh and ready to go’ ahead of the final few tournaments of 2026
Later in the press conference, Sabalenka was asked what she thinks is the most difficult part of being a professional tennis player. The reporter highlighted how critical she is of herself on the court.
“I think this is a good and a bad side of my personality: I always ask myself and wait for more from myself. Sometimes, yeah, it can drive me forward, but sometimes it can really, I don’t know, drain my energy, overall my energy,” said Sabalenka.
“Maybe this is something I have to finally learn. Might be able to learn it when I turn 30 or something. I’m really trying so hard sometimes to be easier on myself.”
Sabalenka knows her self-criticism often drains her energy, but insists her energy levels are sufficient for the final few tournaments of 2026, as she sets her sights on the WTA Finals in Indian Wells.
Live WTA Race
- 1. Elena Rybakina – 7,502 points
- 2. Aryna Sabalenka – 6,550 points
- 3. Jessica Pegula – 5,825 points
- 4. Mirra Andreeva – 5,786 points
- 5. Coco Gauff – 5,664 points
- 6. Elina Svitolina – 4,189 points
- 7. Karolina Muchova – 4,465 points
- 8. Linda Noskova – 4,299 points
“I think overall, like, before Wimbledon, the French Open, the Australian Open, or the US Open, we are a bit fresher. It all depends on how you play in the Grand Slams. This year, for half of the season, I wasn’t performing well. I was struggling with several things,” she said.
“I feel like this year I feel a bit fresher and kind of, like, I expect a bit more from myself. I’m also trying not to put so much expectations and try to focus on myself. But overall, yeah, if the season goes well, by the end of the season you feel a little bit like I don’t have the energy and power to keep pushing, especially ahead of [WTA] Finals. You’re staying a bit maybe softer on yourself. This season is a different story, so I feel fresh and ready to go.”
Sabalenka has already qualified for the WTA Finals, an event she has yet to win. The 2026 WTA Finals will begin on November 8.
