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Preview WTA Finals Riyadh 2024: Swiatek, Sabalenka, Gauff and Rybakina lead maiden Saudi Arabia season ender
WTASaturday, 02 November 2024 at 09:35
The WTA Finals, set to unfold in Riyadh from November 2-9, 2024, represent the pinnacle of the WTA Tour's annual calendar outside the four Grand Slams. As the season-ending championship, the tournament invites the year’s top eight singles players and doubles teams, making it an elite contest for those who have proven their mettle throughout the year.
This 53rd edition is the first to be held in Saudi Arabia, continuing a trend of venue shifts, with past Finals hosted in Shenzhen (2019), Guadalajara (2021), Fort Worth (2022), and Cancun (2023).
Historically, the WTA Finals have been a battleground for some of the most compelling rivalries and career-defining performances. Since its inception in 1972, the event has seen legendary champions like Martina Navratilova, who holds the record with eight titles, and Serena Williams, with five victories. Such champions set the standard for excellence, establishing the WTA Finals as the ultimate showdown for the top women’s players final battle of the year.
Last year, Iga Swiatek's stormed to the title in Cancun with a truly ferocious performance, that culminated in a dominant victory. She defeated Jessica Pegula in a one-sided final, winning 6-1, 6-0. Both Pegula and Swiatek reached the championship match by topping their respective round-robin groups, with Swiatek dismantling Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals (6-3, 6-2) to set up the decisive showdown. Swiatek was virtually flawless, winning 92% of her first-serve points in the first set and capitalizing on both break-point opportunities to claim her second WTA Finals title. Pegula, despite her strength, struggled against Swiatek’s superior play, culminating in a second-set bagel where Swiatek won 80% of the points.
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How do the WTA Finals work?
This year's WTA Finals will continue with the traditional round-robin format. The eight players are divided into two groups, the Purple Group and the Orange Group. Over six days, each competitor will face the other three in their group, with the top two advancing to the semi-finals. The first-placed player in each group will then face the second-placed player from the opposite group, culminating in the Championship Match.
Tie-breaking rules add further intrigue. Should multiple players finish with identical records, the rankings are resolved by:
- Greatest number of match wins.
- Greatest number of matches played.
- Head-to-head results between two tied players.
- If three players are tied, factors such as the highest percentage of sets and games won come into play to determine advancement.
Purple group: Sabalenka looking to solidify as world number one
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka leads the Purple Group, heading into the Finals with her top ranking at stake. Sabalenka has been superb throughout much of the season, winning both the Australian and US Opens and now seeking a fitting season-end triumph. Her group, however, poses challenges. She will face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, who made it to the final of the French open earlier this year, and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, who has been a formidable presence despite recent time off the court. Zheng Qinwen rounds out the group, and her exceptional recent form sets up a potential upset.
Zheng, 22, is considered one of the most in-form players this season, having amassed 28 wins in her last 32 matches. The Olympic gold medallist is fresh off her Pan Pacific Open victory and has consistently risen in the rankings since her WTA debut in 2022, now sitting comfortably within the top 10. Reflecting on her recent successes, Zheng noted, "All the players are really tough to beat. From the first match, I need to be focused. It’s the first time for me to play in the WTA Finals. I was so motivated. But let’s see what’s going to happen." Given her momentum, she could well be Sabalenka’s biggest obstacle to claiming a semi-final berth.
Arise Queenwen: The most in-form player going into this year's WTA Finals.
Sabalenka, however, remains favoured due to her pedigree and ranking points lead over Swiatek, defending only 625 points from last year as a semi finalist. In contrast, Swiatek must defend a full 1,500 points as the reigning champion. Despite her impressive season, Sabalenka acknowledges the weight of her position, knowing that early wins in Riyadh are crucial to securing her year-end No. 1 status, a converted position for any tennis star.
Orange group: Swiatek looking to return to the top
Leading the Orange Group is Iga Swiatek, the world No.2, who narrowly lost her top ranking to Sabalenka in recent weeks. With a five-time Grand Slam champion’s pedigree, Swiatek enters the WTA Finals seeking redemption after a second-half of the season slump, following her US Open exit. Her group seems more favourable, with Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Barbora Krejcikova as her main rivals.
Swiatek has a particularly strong track record against Gauff, which could prove decisive in her group-stage progression. Pegula, who last year succumbed to Swiatek’s power in the Finals, will look to reverse her fortunes but faces an uphill battle given Swiatek’s mental edge. Krejcikova, who brilliantly claimed the Wimbledon title this season, has the capability to pose a challenge but remains inconsistent against the top players, making Swiatek the group favourite.
Swiatek, only 23, has experienced a season of highs and lows, recently revamping her team in response to performance dips. Her impressive Cancun victory last year shows she can rally under pressure, and the Finals offer a last chance to reclaim her No.1 ranking. She enters Riyadh needing to not only defend her points from last year but also to fend off Sabalenka’s challenge. A successful title defence could propel her back to the top and solidify her as one of the most dominant players of the current era. If she’s on her game, she could be impossible to stop.
What can we expect in Riyadh?
The WTA Finals have long been known for epic clashes and legendary encounters. Navratilova’s record eight titles are a testament to the enduring quality of competition at the WTA Finals, with icons like Serena Williams and Steffi Graf also having left their mark on the event. More recent champions, including Caroline Wozniacki and Garbiñe Muguruza, have highlighted the unpredictability of the tournament, where champions and rising stars alike compete to win the biggest crown outside of the four grand slams.
Among anticipated matchups, Sabalenka’s encounter with Zheng Qinwen could prove decisive in the Purple Group. Zheng’s phenomenal season, capped by her win in Tokyo and Olympic success, makes her a formidable contender, especially as she thrives under pressure. Sabalenka’s more experienced game will be tested by Zheng’s relentless energy and confidence.
Jessica Pegula (pictured) will aim to write the wrongs of 2023 after breaking new ground.
In the Orange Group, Swiatek’s face-off with Coco Gauff will definitely be ones for fans to keep an eye on. Despite Swiatek’s winning record over the American, Gauff’s development as a player, especially her grit in high pressure moments, could turn the tables. Jessica Pegula, after her loss to Swiatek in Cancun last year, will also be determined to go one step further this year, making this group highly competitive all round.
The stakes for both Swiatek and Sabalenka add another layer of drama, as both vie for the year-end No.1 spot. Sabalenka has the advantage in points, but Swiatek’s capacity to rise to the occasion in the Finals adds suspense to the chase. The rivalry between these two top players, spanning several Grand Slam showdowns, could set the stage for a grand stand conclusion to a year of thrilling contests.
Don’t forget the doubles
Beyond singles, the doubles competition at the WTA Finals is equally noteworthy, featuring the top eight pairs who have excelled this season. Last year, Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva came out on top, but this year it’s the number 1 ranked paring of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko who will be looking to come out on top. The pair recently won the US Open, and will be tough to beat.
With the WTA Finals returning in a fresh location and with unprecedented stakes in play, the 2024 edition promises a fitting finale to the season. The round-robin structure means fans will see the best face off multiple times, raising the likelihood of rematches and revenge. As Sabalenka and Swiatek contend for the No.1 position, and breakout stars like Zheng Qinwen aim to make their mark, the Finals in Riyadh are poised to be a thrilling display of women’s tennis at its peak.
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