On Wednesday, the WTA confirmed the 8 player singles field for its season-ending championships, the WTA Finals Riyadh, announcing that Zheng Qinwen and Barbora Krejcikova have secured the last two places, while 2 qualification places have yet to be filled in the doubles event.
In 2024, we have seen 11 different winners across Grand Slams and WTA 1000 tournaments, so I fully expect to see incredible match action and on court heroics Riyadh. We are very much looking forward to kicking off the first year of the WTA Finals Riyadh. Garbiñe Muguruza, WTA Finals Tournament Director
Zheng, of China, and Krejcikova from the Czech Republic will join PIF WTA World No 1 Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini and Jessica Pegula at the Finals, which begin on Saturday 2 November in Saudi Arabia.
“Completing the singles line-up for the WTA Finals is an exciting moment as the anticipation heightens for the season ending event,” WTA Finals Tournament Director Garbiñe Muguruza said. “In 2024, we have seen 11 different winners across Grand Slams and WTA 1000 tournaments, so I fully expect to see incredible match action and on court heroics Riyadh. We are very much looking forward to kicking off the first year of the WTA Finals Riyadh.”
Zheng Qinwen has qualified for the season-ending championships for the first time.
© Wang He/Getty Images
Zheng has enjoyed a breakout season on the Hologic WTA Tour and is the first player from China to qualify in singles for the WTA Finals since 2013, when Li Na finished as runner-up, narrowly losing to Serena Williams.
She began her season in fine form by reaching the final at the Australian Open, again emulating Li Na who was the last Chinese player to contest a singles Grand Slam final, which was also in Melbourne in 2014.
Zheng went on to defend her title at the 35° Palermo Ladies Open before flourishing on home soil during the Asian swing, reaching the semi-finals at the China Open in Beijing, and making her third final of the season at the Dongfeng Voyah · Wuhan Open.
The 22-year-old also picked up the Gold medal at the Paris Olympics, while her results this season saw her break into the Top 10 in the rankings for the first time in her career, peaking at No 7.
Barbora Krejcikova secured her place in Riyadh as the highest ranked Grand Slam singles champion finishing between No 8-20 on the leaderboard
© Julian Finney/Getty Images
Krejcikova has a rich history at the WTA Finals, and 2024 marks her 6th consecutive appearance at the tournament, previously competing in singles in 2021 and in the doubles since 2018, lifting the title with partner Katerina Siniakova in 2021.
Currently sitting in the No 12 position on the PIF Race to the WTA Finals, Wimbledon champion Krejcikova has secured her place in Riyadh as the highest ranked Grand Slam singles champion finishing between No 8-20 on the leaderboard.
In addition to adding to her 2021 Roland Garros crown by winning her second major at The Championships at Wimbledon, Krejcikova added vital PIF WTA Ranking points this season thanks to three quarter-final appearances, at the Australian Open, WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open and WTA 250 Rothesay Classic Birmingham.
The 2024 WTA Finals showcases the world’s best 8 singles players and doubles teams competing in a round-robin format with the singles champion lifting the WTA Finals Billie Jean King Trophy and the doubles champions earning the WTA Finals Martina Navratilova Trophy.
Laura Siegemund & Vera Zvonareva lifted the doubles trophy at the GNP Seguros WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, in 2023
© Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
