The 2026 WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz is less than a week from first serve, with the Australian swing set to launch the season shortly after the new year and deliver an immediate test for the world’s best players.
Six tour-level tournaments and two WTA 125 events will be staged across the hard courts of the South Pacific over the next month, culminating in the season’s first Grand Slam at the Australian Open. Early ranking points, form and momentum will all be on the line before January is out.
WTA chief executive Portia Archer marked the countdown with a season-opening letter to fans, signaling confidence and ambition across the tour. “On behalf of the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the start of another thrilling season of women’s tennis,” Archer wrote.
The tour enters 2026 riding record-breaking numbers. More than four million fans attended WTA events last season, while players earned an unprecedented $249 million in prize money, making 2025 one of the most successful years in women’s sport.
Archer described the WTA as “the global leader in women’s sport,” highlighting athletes she called “competitors and global icons fueled by resilience, preparation, talent and belief.” She also emphasized the impact of supporters, writing, “Your passion as fans brings the energy that drives every rally, elevates every moment, and inspires every player to showcase their very best.”
With Mercedes-Benz on board as Premier Partner, the tour is positioning itself for continued global growth and visibility.
As the season progresses, players will chase points on the PIF Race to the WTA Finals Leaderboard, all with an eye on November’s WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF, the crown jewel of the calendar and the richest event in women’s sport history.
For now, the focus is firmly on Australia. The 2026 season is about to begin — and the WTA is wasting no time getting into full swing.
