With the
start of the
WTA Finals, organizers anticipate a better attendance compared to
the 2022 edition, following the late decision to move the tournament to Cancun.
The WTA
Finals bring together the top eight tennis players of the season and are one of
the most prestigious events on the calendar. However, during the 2022 edition,
there was a surprising lack of spectators in the stands during matches
featuring the world's best players.
On that
occasion, the champion was Caroline Garcia, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the
final with a score of 7-6, 6-4 to claim her first Finals title.
In 2022,
the WTA decided to change the location to Fort Worth, Texas, just a few months
before the event, and it resulted in low attendance due to difficulties in
finding a suitable venue. This year, uncertainty persisted for most of the
year, and only 40 days before the event, Cancun was announced as the new host.
Last-minute
construction delays and necessary infrastructure issues created challenges for
the organization. Nevertheless, they hope that Mexican fans will turn out in
large numbers to witness the tournament.
According
to information from Tennis365, the stands in Cancun are expected to be full,
especially during the semifinal matches and the final after the group stage
concludes.
The WTA
Finals offer significant prize money to the players, with $198,000 for their
participation and the same amount for each victory in the round-robin stage.
Those
advancing to the semifinals will receive an additional $54,000, while the
winners of the semifinals earn an additional $756,000. The champion will
receive $1,476,000. This tournament offers the highest prize money on the WTA
Tour.
The Finals
will feature eight tennis players divided into two groups. The first group
includes Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Maria Sakkari,
while the second group will see Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur, and
Marketa Vondrousova face off.