Swiatek and Sabalenka secure WTA Finals spots: Who will join them in Riyadh?

Monday, 09 September 2024 at 22:00

Aryna Sabalenka has secured her spot in the WTA Finals, joining Iga Swiatek as the first two players confirmed for the event in Riyadh. Sabalenka's second Grand Slam title of the season brought her closer to Swiatek, and the Finals will play a crucial role in deciding who ends the year as World No. 1.

Six spots remain up for grabs, although several players seem almost certain to secure their places. However, the battle for the last few spots in the top eight remains wide open as WTA stars prepare for the final leg of the season.

Sabalenka joins Swiatek as first qualifiers for WTA Finals

So far, only two players have officially qualified for the Finals. The first to secure her spot was Iga Swiatek at the start of August, following an outstanding clay swing, which included a 19-match winning streak and four WTA 1000 titles, alongside her French Open triumph. With a record of 54-7 this season, the Polish star is firmly holding onto the World No. 1 ranking.

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Just a few days ago, Sabalenka booked her place in Riyadh after reaching the US Open final. With two Grand Slam titles—Australian Open and US Open—and a Cincinnati WTA 1000 title under her belt, Sabalenka has narrowed the gap to Swiatek. They are now separated by roughly 400 points.

The Belarusian is a strong contender to finish the year as World No. 1, especially with the remaining tournaments being held on hard courts, a surface where she excels. Swiatek currently has 8,285 points in the WTA Race, while Sabalenka follows closely with 7,876.

Rybakina and Paolini near the finish line

The current threshold for WTA Finals qualification stands at 5,835 points, although it will gradually drop as more tournaments unfold. Some players will need to push hard to secure their spots, though a few are almost guaranteed to be in Riyadh.

Elena Rybakina is closest to qualifying, with 4,981 points. Despite injuries and frequent withdrawals, the Kazakh has delivered strong results when fit: three WTA 500 titles, two WTA 1000 runner-up finishes, and a semi-final run at Wimbledon. She is third in the Race with 4,981 points and, while not officially qualified yet, it would take a disaster to see her miss out.

In a similar position is Jasmine Paolini, who won the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and was runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. With 4,865 points, Paolini is well-positioned to qualify for the Finals. Jessica Pegula follows closely with 4,466 points, and while her qualification isn't confirmed yet, it's unlikely that many players will overtake her after she earned 1,200 points by reaching the US Open final.

Jessica Pegula reach the final at 2024 US Open.

These three players are highly unlikely to miss out on the Finals. Although they haven't reached the qualification threshold yet, they won't need many more points to book their tickets to Riyadh.

For reference, the last player to qualify for the Finals in 2022 was Maria Sakkari with 3,245 points. In 2021, Daria Kasatkina needed 2,935, and Anett Kontaveit 3,096. The most points needed to qualify was in 2019, when Elina Svitolina secured the final spot with 3,995 points.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova is practically guaranteed a place in the Finals as a Grand Slam champion. According to the rules, if a Slam champion is not among the top eight players, they will qualify as long as they finish the season inside the top 20. With 2,686 points so far, it’s nearly impossible for Krejcikova to drop out of the top 20.

Final spots up for grabs

With Swiatek and Sabalenka confirmed for the Finals, four more spots are practically secured by Barbora Krejcikova, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, and Jessica Pegula, leaving two final spots in fierce contention.

Coco Gauff leads this part of the race with 3,968 points. The American hasn’t capitalised on the hard-court swing as she did last year, and she’s now dropped out of the top five in the Race. Nevertheless, Gauff still has strong chances to qualify for the Finals, though the form of her competitors could mean her place won’t be confirmed until the final weeks of the season.

Currently, the eighth and final qualifying spot belongs to Emma Navarro, who has 3,568 points after a semi-final run at the US Open. Her impressive showing at the final Grand Slam of the year has created some distance between her and her closest challengers.

However, players like Danielle Collins (3,179) and Zheng Qinwen (3,070) are also well within striking distance of a Finals spot. With two WTA 1000 events and a few WTA 500 tournaments still on the calendar, a deep run or an important title could push either of them into the top eight, keeping the race open until the very last week.

WTA Race updated, September 9

	Player	Age	Country	Points
1	Iga Świątek	23	POL	10885
2	Aryna Sabalenka	26	BLR	8716
3	Jessica Pegula	30	USA	6220
4	Elena Rybakina	25	KAZ	5871
5	Jasmine Paolini	28	ITA	5398
6	Coco Gauff	20	USA	4983
7	Qinwen Zheng	21	CHN	3980
8	Emma Navarro	23	USA	3705
9	Maria Sakkari	29	GRE	3416
10	Danielle Collins	30	USA	3178
11	Barbora Krejčíková	28	CZE	3161
12	Jeļena Ostapenko	27	LAT	3008
13	Daria Kasatkina	27	RUS	2803
14	Anna Kalinskaya	25	RUS	2725
15	Ludmilla Samsonova	25	RUS	2720
16	Diana Shnaider	20	RUS	2571
17	Beatriz Haddad Maia	28	BRA	2516
18	Marta Kostyuk	22	UKR	2445
19	Victoria Azarenka	35	BLR	2326
20	Paula Badosa	26	ESP	2325
21	Donna Vekić	28	CRO	2243
22	Ons Jabeur	30	TUN	2211
23	Mirra Andreeva	17	RUS	2153
24	Madison Keys	29	USA	2077
25	Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova	33	RUS	2021
26	Leylah Fernandez	22	CAN	2009
27	Linda Nosková	19	CZE	1953
28	Elina Svitolina	29	UKR	1942
29	Yulia Putintseva	29	KAZ	1841
30	Ekaterina Alexandrova	29	RUS	1778

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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