{"id":1831195,"date":"2026-03-17T17:30:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T14:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1831195"},"modified":"2026-03-17T17:30:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T14:30:32","slug":"wta-rankings-race-to-riyadh-sabalenka-closes-gap-to-rybakina-mboko-5th-gauff-swiatek-trailing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1831195","title":{"rendered":"WTA Rankings Race To Riyadh: Sabalenka closes gap to Rybakina, Mboko 5th, Gauff &amp; Swiatek trailing"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">WTA Rankings Race To Riyadh: Sabalenka closes gap to Rybakina, Mboko 5th, Gauff &amp; Swiatek trailing<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/ewan-west\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Ewan West                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"17 Mar 2026 5:30 PM\" data-ps-date=\"17 Mar 2026 5:30 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1773768632\"><br \/>\n                            17 Mar 2026 5:30 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred 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href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fwta-rankings-race-to-riyadh-aryna-sabalenka-closes-gap-elena-rybakina-victoria-mboko-coco-gauff-iga-swiatek\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"WTA Rankings Race To Riyadh: Sabalenka closes gap to Rybakina, Mboko 5th, Gauff &amp; Swiatek trailing\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elena-Rybakina-Aryna-Sabalenka-Victoria-Mboko-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Mboko\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                WTA stars Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Mboko                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Elena Rybakina remains the leader in the Race to the WTA Finals, but Aryna Sabalenka has closed the gap to the Kazakh star after beating her in the 2026 Indian Wells final.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/aryna-sabalenka\">Sabalenka<\/a> overcame <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/elena-rybakina\">Rybakina<\/a> 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) in an epic Indian Wells championship match to claim her maiden title at the WTA 1000 event.<\/p>\n<p>It was a rematch of the Australian Open final in January, which Rybakina won in three sets to secure her second Grand Slam.<\/p>\n<h2>What is the Race to Riyadh?<\/h2>\n<p>The eight women who earn the most ranking points in the 2026 season will qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals, which will be staged in Riyadh from 7 to 14 November. If a current-year Grand Slam winner finishes between ninth and 20th in the Race, they will take the eighth and final qualification spot.<\/p>\n<p>The prestigious tournament, which was first held in 1972, is played on indoor hard-court at the King Saud University Indoor Arena.<\/p>\n<p>Rybakina is the reigning WTA Finals champion having secured a record-breaking $5,235,000 for winning last year\u2019s event.<\/p>\n<h2>Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/emma-raducanu-next-tournament-after-miami-open-withdrawal-alex-eala-set-to-star\"><strong>Emma Raducanu\u2019s next tournament revealed after Miami Open withdrawal as Alex Eala also set to star<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/wta-miami-open-predictions-sabalenka-rybakina-rivalry-continues-swiatek-faces-more-disappointment\"><strong>WTA Miami Open Predictions: Sabalenka &amp; Rybakina rivalry continues, Swiatek faces more disappointment<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The players who finish ninth and 10th will travel to Saudi Arabia as alternates and have the chance to take the place of any players who withdraw.<\/p>\n<h2>The latest Race to Riyadh rankings after Indian Wells<\/h2>\n<p>Rybakina has moved onto 3,103 points having collected 650 points for her runner-up result in Indian Wells.<\/p>\n<p>Sabalenka\u2019s victory in Tennis Paradise has taken her onto 2,810 points, lifting her above both Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina.<\/p>\n<p>Pegula and Svitolina both lost to Rybakina in Indian Wells \u2014 in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively \u2014 are they are now tied on 2,200 points.<\/p>\n<p>Victoria Mboko has held onto fifth position in the Race after reaching the quarter-finals in Indian Wells, where she fell to Sabalenka.<\/p>\n<p>Karolina Muchova, Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff all started Indian Wells in sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, and they have not moved.<\/p>\n<p>Muchova made the last 16 in the Californian desert, while Andreeva and Gauff both exited in the third round.<\/p>\n<p>Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek are level on 1,020 points.<\/p>\n<h2>Live WTA Race to Riyadh (as of 23 February)<\/h2>\n<p>1) Elena Rybakina \u2013 3,103<br \/>\n2) Aryna Sabalenka \u2013 2,810<br \/>\n3) Jessica Pegula \u2013 2,200<br \/>\n4) Elina Svitolina \u2013 2,200<br \/>\n5) Victoria Mboko \u2013 1,722<br \/>\n6) Karolina Muchova \u2013 1,565<br \/>\n7) Mirra Andreeva \u2013 1,258<br \/>\n8) Coco Gauff \u2013 1,055<br \/>\n<em>Cutoff<\/em><br \/>\n9) Amanda Anisimova \u20131,020<br \/>\n10) Iga Swiatek \u2013 1,020<br \/>\n11) Belinda Bencic \u2013 874<br \/>\n12) Iva Jovic \u2013 861<br \/>\n13) Cristina Bucsa \u2013 771<br \/>\n14) Linda Noskova \u2013 720<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/swiateks-blunt-warning-raducanus-potential-rankings-blow-uncle-toni-disagrees-alcaraz-miami-open-roundup\">Swiatek\u2019s blunt warning, Raducanu\u2019s potential rankings blow, Uncle Toni disagrees with Alcaraz \u2013 Miami Open roundup<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WTA Rankings Race To Riyadh: Sabalenka closes gap to Rybakina, Mboko 5th, Gauff &amp; Swiatek trailing Ewan West 17 Mar 2026 5:30 PM WTA stars Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Mboko Elena Rybakina remains the leader in the Race to the WTA Finals, but Aryna Sabalenka has closed the gap to the Kazakh star [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1831195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1831195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1831195"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1831195\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1831195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1831195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1831195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}