Read all you need to know ahead of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, November 2-9, live on Sky Sports Tennis, as this year’s top eight women’s players in the world face off; Watch ATP and WTA action on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+ which is integrated into Sky TV, NOW and app
Image: The WTA Finals take place in Riyadh between November 2-9, live on Sky Sports Tennis
The climax to the 2024 WTA Tour season arrives in November in the shape of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, live on Sky Sports Tennis.
Between November 2 and 9 the top eight women’s players in the world will face off in Saudi Arabia, looking to end their seasons on a high.
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What is the format of the WTA Finals?
As with the ATP Finals in Turin, the WTA Finals hosts the top eight players from this calendar year.
The singles and doubles competition at the WTA Finals is played in a round-robin format. Players and teams are drawn into two separate groups and the top two finishers from each group advance to the semi-finals.
The top finisher from each group will face the runner-up from the other. The semi-finals and final are then played in a standard knockout format.
Image: Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek will be the two favourites at the 2024 WTA Finals
Who has qualified for the WTA Finals?
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Highlights of the Wuhan Open final match between Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka were the first two players in turn to qualify for the WTA Finals, with the latter now topping the WTA rankings after her win at the Wuhan Open.
The next four players in the list – Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula have qualified too.
Gauff moved ahead of Italy’s Paolini into third place after the American following up her China Open title with a run to the semi-finals a week later at the Shanghai Masters, where the latter lost in the quarters.
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Coco Gauff hit a stunning backhand winner in her epic semi-final encounter with Aryna Sabalenka at the Wuhan Open.
Zheng Qinwen, of China, and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova will join the others at the prestigious season-ending tournament.
Zheng has enjoyed a break-out season and is the first player from China to qualify in singles for the WTA Finals since Li Na in 2013, who finished as runner-up that year narrowly losing to Serena Williams.
The 22-year-old picked up the gold medal at the Paris Olympics while her results this season saw her break into the Top 10 for the first time in her career.
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Highlights of Swiatek against Sabalenka from the Rome final
Krejcikova has a rich history at the WTA Finals and 2024 marks her sixth consecutive appearance at the tournament, having competed in singles previously in 2021 and in doubles since 2018, lifting the title with partner Katerina Siniakova in 2021.
Image: Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova needs only to finish inside the top 20 rankings this year to book her place
This is the first year such a scenario is a qualification rule for the WTA, where the highest ranked Grand Slam champion ranked No 8-20 secures a spot, leaving Krejcikova with a great chance of making it to Saudi Arabia.
WTA Finals groups
Purple Group
[1] Aryna Sabalenka
[4] Jasmine Paolini
[5] Elena Rybakina
[7] Zheng Qinwen
Orange Group
[2] Iga Swiatek
[3] Coco Gauff
[6] Jessica Pegula
[8] Barbora Krejcikova
WTA Finals 2024 schedule
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Highlights of Swiatek against Sabalenka from the Rome final
Top-seeded Sabalenka and the Purple Group will get underway on Saturday, with the Orange Group set to begin on Sunday.
Order of Play: Day 1
[1] Sabalenka vs [7] Zheng
[4] Paolini vs [5] Rybakina
Order of Play: Day 2
[2] Swiatek vs [8] Krejcikova
[3] Gauff vs [6] Pegula
Who is the defending champion?
In 2023, Swiatek dominated Pegula 6-1 6-0 to win the season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun and regain her world No 1 ranking from Sabalenka.
Image: Poland's Swiatek is the defending champion, having beaten Jessica Pegula in the 2023 WTA Finals
The four-time Grand Slam winner broke Pegula five times and saved the only break point she faced en route to her first WTA Finals trophy in a match delayed a day due to rain.
The Pole went 5-0 at the WTA tour’s season-closing championship, winning all 10 sets she played and ceding a total of just 20 games.
Such form was the fewest by the tournament’s winner since 2003, when it returned to a round-robin format. The previous low in that time was the 34 games dropped by Justine Henin in 2007.
Where are the WTA Finals?
Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh will host the WTA Finals for the top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 tournaments.
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The women’s professional tennis tour announced the three-year deal will see prize money for this November’s tournament raised to $15.25m (£12m), a 70-per-cent increase from 2023.
Previous hosts were Cancun (2023), Fort Worth (2022), Guadalajara (2021), Shenzhen (2019), Singapore (2014-2018), Istanbul (2011-2013), Doha (2008-2010), Madrid (2006-2007), Los Angeles (2002-2005, 1974-1976), Munich (2001), New York (1979-2000, 1977), Oakland (1978), Boca Raton (1972-1973).
Live on Sky Sports Tennis
- Hong Kong Tennis Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Jiangxi Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Merida Open Akron – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Rolex Paris Masters – ATP 1000 (October 28 – November 3)
- WTA Finals Riyadh – (November 2-9)
- Belgrade Open – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
- Moselle Open, Metz – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
- Nitto ATP Finals, Turin – (November 10-17)
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
Sourse: skysports.com
