New Delhi: Aryna Sabalenka is determined to put an exclamation mark on her extraordinary 2024 season with a title at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As the top seed and reigning Australian and US Open champion Sabalenka leads a stellar lineup in pursuit of the year-end title.
However, as she seeks to defend her world No. 1 ranking, she faces strong competition from an elite field of contenders, all with the potential to disrupt her dominance.
Why the tournament is controversial?
2024’s TOP 8 women’s tennis players in the world 🌍
A thread of portraits 🪡
#WTAFinalsRiyadh | 📸: Jingyu Lin / WTA pic.twitter.com/W1BrVuLV3B— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2024
This year, the WTA Finals attracted considerable debate by choosing Saudi Arabia as its host. Critics, including tennis icons Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, have called the move a “step backward” for women’s sports, concerned about the nation’s restrictions on women’s rights and the LGBTQ+ community. Saudi Arabia’s recent investments in sports like golf, boxing, and soccer have sparked accusations of “sportswashing”—using high-profile events to soften its international image.
WTA Chief Executive Portia Archer defended the decision emphasizing the organisation is “comfortable” in its decision to host the event in Saudi Arabia. She said,”We often play in environments and in countries that have different customs, different cultures, and in some cases different value systems than I or the WTA may have.”
Top contender Sabalenka herself voiced excitement about bringing tennis to new territories while other players such as Coco Gauff acknowledged mixed feelings about competing in a country with such restrictions. Nonetheless, all eyes will be on Riyadh as the players compete in this historic event, the first WTA Finals to take place in the kingdom.
What is the WTA Finals 2024?
The WTA Finals feature the top eight singles players and doubles team who will compete in round-robin format from today. The players and teams will play each other once and the the top two in both singles and doubles will advance to the semi-finals. The top two player/team from each group will face the No. 2 placed player/team in the other group. The event will conclude on November 9.
Contenders
Here’s a look at the eight top players who qualified for this year’s WTA Finals, each aiming to conclude their season on a high note and, perhaps, dethrone Sabalenka as the world’s best.
Aryna Sabalenka
The top seed & World No.1 ☝️@SabalenkaA | #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/Gums8k0DYA
— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2024
The stage is set for the WTA Finals featuring Aryna Sabalenka who has had a remarkable season at just 25 years old. As the top seed Sabalenka has won two Grand Slam titles and secured four titles overall boasting a record of 54-12. Sabalenka aims to clinch her first WTA Finals title after finishing as the runner-up in 2022.
Iga Swiatek
The defending champion 🏆@iga_swiatek | #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/7tMlG81mEi
— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2024
Hot on Sabalenka’s heels is Iga Swiatek the 23-year-old reigning champion from Poland. With five titles and a strong 54-7 record this season she has a chance to become the first player in a decade to win back-to-back WTA Finals titles. Following a recent coaching change to Wim Fissette Swiatek is poised to challenge Sabalenka’s supremacy.
Coco Gauff
The youngest singles qualifier in Riyadh back for a third-straight year ✨@CocoGauff | #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/i0w4vsHvQQ
— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2024
The 21-year-old Coco Gauff from the United States is another strong contender on the list. Despite a disappointing US Open Gauff has recently rebounded with a victory in Beijing. With adjustments made to her serve and an impressive record of 48-15 she is looking to make a significant impact in her third Finals appearance.
Jasmine Paolini
The Dubai champ & two-time Slam finalist this season🤌@JasminePaolini | #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/tob22IHWUK
— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2024
Jasmine Paolini, 28, represents Italy and is making her debut at the Finals after a breakout season that included her first WTA 1,000 title and Grand Slam finals appearances at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Known for her resilience she enters Riyadh ready to showcase her talents on the grand stage.
Elena Rybakina
The title-holder in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi & Stuttgart, Elena Rybakina 🏆🏆🏆#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/kXqhKlIJFZ
— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2024
The 25-year-old Elena Rybakina hails from Kazakhstan and is the 2022 Wimbledon champion. While her season has been affected by health issues and her strong early season form and record of 41-9 make her a dangerous opponent if she returns to form in Riyadh.
Jessica Pegula
The back-to-back WTA 1000 winner in Canada ⚛️@JPegula | #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/o6Q9EiPqv1
— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2024
Jessica Pegula, 30, from the United States has turned her season around with strong performances on American hard courts including a title in Toronto and a runner-up finish at the US Open. With a solid record of 38-13, her consistent baseline game and tenacity make her a tough draw for any opponent.
Zheng Qinwen
The Olympic gold medalist, Zheng Qinwen 🥇#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/8ijqDDYu5R
— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2024
A 22-year-old Zheng Qinwen from China has enjoyed a breakout season highlighted by an Olympic gold medal and a Grand Slam final appearance in Melbourne. With 47 wins to her name and an impressive 28 victories in her last 32 matches her fearless playstyle could shake up the tournament.
Barbora Krejcikova
The Wimbledon champion 🌱@BKrejcikova | #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/QnFPFNTsSu
— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2024
Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic returns to the Finals after securing her spot with a Wimbledon victory. Although she has had an inconsistent season with a record of 16-13, her doubles prowess and skills at the net make her a wildcard in this competition. As the tournament unfolds each player will strive to put a halt to Sabalenka’s dominance and secure a prestigious title.
Who is competing?
💃🏻
🎬 Aryna Sabalenka | Instagram | #WTAFinals | #WTAFinalsRiyadh | #czasnatenis pic.twitter.com/bqkedK9gB1
— Z kortu – informacje tenisowe | Tennis news (@z_kortu) November 1, 2024
SINGLES
Purple Group: Aryna Sabalenka, Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, Zheng Qinwen
Orange Group: Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Barbora Krejcikova
Who will prevail?
Sabalenka’s dominance marked by her power-packed game and resilience will be tested by an elite field of talented contenders. Swiatek’s consistency, Gauff’s youthful energy, and Pegula’s grit all pose real challenges, as do the fresh perspectives of players like Zheng and Paolini, who enter the Finals looking to disrupt the status quo.
The season-ending event in Saudi Arabia brings not just intense competition but also a platform for discussing broader issues in women’s tennis. With the stakes high, both on and off the court, this year’s WTA Finals promises drama, top-level tennis, and perhaps, a new champion to close out 2024.
Prize money at WTA Finals 2024
The singles champion will earn no less $4.45 million of the overall prize money of $15.25 million. If a player goes unbeaten towards the title they could earn $5.15 million. In comparison in 2019, Ash Barty had won $4.42 million in what was a huge moment for women’s tennis as the event got moved to Shenzhen.
