WTA Finals Preview

The tournament is set to recommence on 1 November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With significant implications at stake, the overall winner will earn the distinction of overall champion. Last year Coco Gauff was crowned the champion after defeating Zheng Qinwen in a thrilling three sets match. Let’s review the preview.

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka began the year on a high note, achieving 11 consecutive match wins. Her outstanding performance led to her winning the Brisbane Open title and reaching the Australian Open final, where she was defeated by Madison Keys, who secured her first major title. Throughout the season, the 27-year-old demonstrated exceptional skill, capturing three additional titles, including victories in Miami, Madrid, and the US Open. Although she narrowly missed winning the French Open, losing to Coco Gauff in the final, Sabalenka enters the WTA Finals as the world’s top-ranked player. It is worth noting that she has yet to win the Finals, with her best result being a finalist in 2022. Last year she suffered semi-final loss to eventual champion Gauff last year.

Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek had a standout season, marked by consistency and clutch performances. Although she fell short of her fourth consecutive French Open title, Swiatek excelled during the grass season, reaching the Hamburg Open final and ultimately losing to Jessica Pegula. She then secured her first Wimbledon Open title, showcasing her adaptability. Furthermore, Swiatek claimed the Cincinnati and Korea Open titles, highlighting her impressive form in the second half of the year. After exiting the Finals at the group stage last year, Swiatek will be motivated to move past that disappointment.

Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff begins her WTA Finals campaign as the defending champion, driven by the ambition to make history. Gauff is determined to become the first player to win consecutive WTA Finals titles in 11 years, emulating the achievement of her idol Serena Williams in 2014. To achieve this historic feat, she must produce a top-notch tennis display. The 21-year-old American has already demonstrated her exceptional abilities this year, securing the French Open title with a victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Despite experiencing a temporary dip in form, she regained her momentum and advanced to the semi-finals of the Beijing Open, where she was ultimately defeated by Amanda Anisimova. Gauff’s triumph at the Wuhan Open has left her motivated and focused ahead of the Finals in Saudi Arabia.

Amanda Anisimova

Amanda Anisimova has taken the tennis world by storm in 2025, establishing herself as a breakout star of the season. Her impressive performance has earned her a first-ever appearance in the WTA Finals. This year, the 24-year-old American has reached the finals of two Grand Slam tournaments, including a captivating Wimbledon final against Iga Swiatek in July. Despite falling short against Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final, Anisimova bounced back by claiming the China Open title last month. With 29 victories and 7 losses on hard courts out of 36 matches, Anisimova will be a force to be reckoned with in the WTA Finals.

Rules

• The draws are split into two groups of four, and each player will engage in a match with the other three members of their group once. The top two from each group will proceed to the semifinals on Nov. 7, with the winner of each group facing the second-place finisher from the other.

• Each round-robin victory is valued at three points, with the top two advancing. Should two players be tied, the head-to-head winner will possess the advantage.

• In a three-way tie, the tiebreaker is determined by matches played, total sets won, and total games won.

Prize Money

A record-breaking total of $15.5 million in prize money is being offered, with $12.4 million allocated to singles and $3.1 million to doubles. An undefeated singles champion would receive $5.235 million.

Past winners

2024 – Coco Gauff

2023 – Iga Swiatek

2022 – Caroline Garcia

2021 – Garbine Muguruza

2020 – Canceled due to Covid-19

2019 – Ashleigh Barty