The WTA Finals, the pinnacle event of the women’s tennis season, commences on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This prestigious tournament gathers the top eight singles players and doubles teams, all vying for supremacy in a round-robin format leading to knockout stages. The coveted finals for both singles and doubles are set for November 8.
Coco Gauff, the reigning champion, enters the tournament eager to defend her title, while Aryna Sabalenka, currently the world’s top-ranked player, aims to secure her first season-ending championship. Notably, the singles field features champions from all four Grand Slam tournaments this year: the formidable lineup includes US Open winner Sabalenka, French Open victor Gauff, Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, and Australian Open titleholder Madison Keys.
Joining them are Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini, and Elena Rybakina, who have also earned their spots among the elite players.
In last year’s finals, held at the same location for the first time, Gauff triumphed over China’s Zheng Qinwen. She arrives in Riyadh with momentum, having recently claimed victory at the Wuhan Open in China.
The singles competition is divided into two groups of four players each, with every competitor facing the others in their group. Each win during the round-robin stage is worth three points. In the event of a tie, the head-to-head result will determine advancement. If three players are tied, tiebreakers will rely on match count, total sets won, and total games won.
The top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the group winners facing the second-place finishers from the opposite group in elimination matches leading to the final. This format applies to the doubles competition as well.
The tournament is structured as follows:
Stefanie Graf Group
- Aryna Sabalenka (1)
- Coco Gauff (3)
- Jessica Pegula (5)
- Jasmine Paolini (8)
Serena Williams Group
- Iga Swiatek (2)
- Amanda Anisimova (4)
- Elena Rybakina (6)
- Madison Keys (7)
As the competition draws closer, fans are particularly excited about the matchups within the groups. For instance, Sabalenka will face off against Gauff, whom she narrowly lost to in the French Open final. Their rivalry continues to heat up, especially after Sabalenka had previously beaten Gauff in Madrid. Also of interest is the clash between Pegula and Gauff, which recently occurred in Wuhan, where Gauff emerged victorious.
In the Serena Williams Group, Swiatek’s encounters with Anisimova and Rybakina will be closely watched, given their history. Anisimova is making her Finals debut, while Rybakina looks to capitalize on her recent momentum despite pulling out of a semi-final in Tokyo.
The doubles draw is equally competitive:
Martina Navratilova Group
- Sara Errani & Jasmine Paolini (1)
- Hsieh Su-Wei & Jelena Ostapenko (6)
- Veronika Kudermetova & Elise Mertens (4)
- Asia Muhammad & Demi Schuurs (8)
Liezel Huber Group
- Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend (2)
- Mirra Andreeva & Diana Shnaider (5)
- Gabriela Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe (3)
- Timea Babos & Luisa Stefani (7)
The tournament kicks off on November 1, starting with the doubles match between Errani and Paolini against Muhammad and Schuurs. The singles competition will follow shortly after, marking the beginning of a thrilling week filled with high-stakes tennis and fierce competition for a total prize pool of $15.5 million, with a record $5.235 million awaiting the singles champion.
As the tournament unfolds, expectations soar, not only for the elite level of play but also for a Grand Slam-level showcase of style and personality, as highlighted by the recent pre-tournament fashion portraits featuring the athletes in striking designs. The WTA Finals promise to deliver unforgettable moments as the season concludes with the crowning of the best in women’s tennis.
