Starting on October 29, the WTA Finals is the season-ending spectacle which sees the top eight players defined by the WTA Race face off against each other, this time in Cancun.

The draw of the WTA Finals is complete and ahead of the tournament starting, TennisUpToDate has you covered with the ultimate preview and look ahead to action commencing on Sunday 29 October.

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DRAW 2023 WTA Finals Cancun as groups confirmed led by Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina

Group of Death as Sabalenka joined by Pegula, Rybakina and Sakkari

As ever, the draw took place a lot later than initially pencilled in with fans having to wait on social media for it to take place with no stream, barring a Polish journalist with a shaky iPhone Instagram stream.

But in the end, it was finally confirmed with two main talking points. Starting off with the Bacalar Group. It was always confirmed that Iga Swiatek would be kept away from Aryna Sabalenka due to seedings and so the rest was almost up for debate with both set to headline a group.

To say that Sabalenka won't be enjoying her picks compared to Swiatek is an understatement, with a group of death feel to her fellow three players. Form may not be a factor with many not playing much in Asia including Sabalenka.

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But Head to Head always paints a picture and on the surface, it is a poor group but when it comes to her record against these players, she may feel a bit better.

Sitting 4-2 up on Rybakina, they of course battled in the Australian Open Final which was won by Sabalenka. In both Indian Wells and Beijing since though, Rybakina has had Sabalenka's number and fairly emphatically. Against Pegula, she is 4-1 up and Sakkari is also positive with a 6-3 win ratio.

Other clashes to look out include a first time tie between Rybakina and Sakkari and also the latter facing off with Pegula which is one of the best rivalries on the WTA Tour.

Also with the added facet of Sakkari being a dark horse for many due to winning Guadalajara, being adored by the Mexican fans and in many cases, Caroline Garcia and Garbine Muguruza proving the point, it is usually a player outside the favourites who wins.

But as ever with only one player from each group moving through, it means at least three of a stacked group will miss out.

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The groups are SET 🔒 What do you make of the 2023 GNP Seguros #WTAFinals draw? 👇

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Swiatek gets easier route with familiar foe Gauff in same group

With that group of course Iga Swiatek was set for a simpler route and this included a player that until very recently, she had never lost to in Coco Gauff.

Gauff finally got one over the Pole in Cincinnati which proved to be a catalyst for her US Open success. Swiatek since got that win back and has proven her ability to dismantle albeit a different Gauff now.

Stealing the show with her red dress at the gala, Swiatek will hope to be sealing the trophy finally and a return to World No.1. She is joined by Marketa Vondrousova and Ons Jabeur too.

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A return to the Wimbledon final and one which saw Jabeur feel the mental effects long after looking a shell of herself at the US Open with back-to-back final losses in SW19. It has been up and down since then with Jabeur winning Ningbo, but then injuring her knee and withdrawing from subsequent tournaments. Some doubted whether Vondrousova or Jabeur would make it to Cancun, with Karolina Muchova who was with the trio when they were confirmed withdrawing.

But the proof will be in the pudding and they will hope to make it so it isn't just a two player dash to the semi-finals for Swiatek or Gauff.

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Wind is blowing in Cancún 🇲🇽🌪 @WTAFinals #Rybakina #WTAFinals

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Stadium concerns and curse of WTA Finals

But while the excitement is there for the WTA season to conclude, the bigger problems with this tournament were put under the microscope again.

From being moved to Cancun mere weeks before and players not knowing what they are even playing for, the stadium court mere days before has not been ready and fans will face a race against time to even attend.

Players have voiced their displeasure with Marketa Vondrousova in particular comparing the players to construction workers. Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina too have weighed in on the situation in a damning manner.

Many expect the tournament to likely move to Saudi Arabia which itself sees criticism and a likely further problem for a tournament that has not had a stable home for a long time.

In terms of the actual action too, the WTA Finals winner will hope to also avoid the curse put on winners with Garbine Muguruza and Caroline Garcia both basically falling off a cliff after winning the title.

Muguruza during 2021 was towards the top of the game again, but in her first year as an elite player once more, the Spaniard plummeted as she couldn't close out games and took a break earlier this year for mental health reasons and to recharge. She has since not confirmed when she is returning and is out for the forseeable.

While Garcia who again like Muguruza won't return to defend her crown has had a poor year since then and while it hasn't been as terminal as Muguruza in terms of her career, the highs of Fort Worth have never been recaptured.

Multiple early exits at Grand Slams and only just recently showing signs of a return, she played the WTA Elite Trophy this time instead of the main event showing the rapid fall. Anyone winning the title will hope it is not the same fate.