Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek being penalised by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for rules-breach, how it happened, what it means and what comes next.

What happened

Both Sabalenka and Świątek have been hit with ranking-point penalties because they did not participate in the minimum required number of WTA 500 tournaments during the 2025 season. (EssentiallySports)

Under WTA rules: players must take part in at least six WTA 500 level events in a season (unless injured or otherwise excused). (Essentially sports)

Because they failed to meet this requirement, the WTA has applied “zero-pointer” penalties: the points they earned from certain higher-level events were reduced to zero (effectively removed) and replaced by zero for the missed WTA 500 events. (Daily Express US)

Specifically:

• Sabalenka had about 120 points removed from her run at the Dubai Tennis Championships (WTA 500 event) in the latest rankings update. (Tennisuptodate.com)

• Świątek had about 108 points removed from her result at the Stuttgart Open (also a WTA 500) in the same update. (Tennisuptodate.com)

• On top of that, both had 400 points each removed for defending points from the 2024 season’s WTA Finals, where they had earned significant points last year. (EssentiallySports)

In total, Sabalenka dropped around 520 points, Świątek around 508 points in this round of penalties. (Tennis365)

Despite the deductions, they remain at the top of the rankings: Sabalenka still No. 1, Świątek still No. 2. (Daily Express US)

Why this matters

• The rule is intended to ensure that the game’s top players participate in a sufficient number of mid-level tournaments (WTA 500s), helping promote those events and maintain competitive balance. (EssentiallySports)

• Because these deductions happen late in the season, they can affect the year-end No. 1 race, the total points tally, seeding and perception of dominance.

• For Sabalenka: despite the penalty, she now has a wide enough lead that she has effectively locked in the year-end No. 1 ranking. (Tennis365)

• For Świątek: the deductions reinforce the importance of attending required tournaments, and they reduce her chance to catch Sabalenka in points this season.

• The penalty sends a message: even the very top players aren’t exempt from participation requirements.

Context & background

• Sabalenka has had a strong season, including major results (e.g., Grand Slams) which helped build her high ranking.

• Świątek, despite being highly successful, had a more disrupted season (injuries, other commitments) and fewer appearances in WTA 500 events.

• The WTA rule enforcement is fairly recent in the way it is being applied consistently to the leading players. (UBITENNIS)

• From media and fan commentary, this has stirred some debate in the tennis community — for example:

  “Those who break the rule drop the ranking points … and are then handed zero points for missing a 500-level tournament.” (Reddit)

Implications & what’s next

• For Sabalenka: With her deduction applied and her lead intact, she will finish the year at No. 1 barring major upset.

• Her lead (reported ~1,675 points) is beyond what can realistically be caught given the remaining tournament(s) available. (Tennis365)

• For Świątek: The path to overtaking Sabalenka is now narrower.

• She must not only perform excellently in the remaining events, but the participation rule means she may still be at a disadvantage in terms of total tournaments played and points eligible.

• For other players: The enforcement may shift attention to who is attending the required tournaments, potentially altering participation strategy in 2026 and beyond.

• For the WTA schedule & rule debate: There may be discussions about whether the “six WTA 500 events” threshold is fair to all, how injuries or personal circumstances should be accommodated, and how much the rule affects player scheduling decisions (balancing rest vs obligations).

• Sabalenka and Świątek were penalised by the WTA for failing to meet the minimum WTA 500 event participation requirement — resulting in the removal of hundreds of ranking points.

• Despite this, Sabalenka remains world No. 1 and is essentially secure as the year-end No. 1; Świątek remains No. 2 but has less room to improve her position relative to Sabalenka.

• The case underscores the importance of tournament participation rules in the WTA ranking system, and how even top players must navigate scheduling, performance and obligations.

• The impact will carry over into how players plan their seasons, attend tournaments, and manage rest vs ranking duties.