WTA Finals 2024 on Sky Sports activities Tennis: The season to this point for the highest eight gamers

We have a look at the season to this point for the highest eight WTA gamers this yr forward of the climax to the season arriving in November within the form of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, reside on Sky Sports activities Tennis.

Between November 2 and 9 the highest eight ladies’s gamers on the earth will face off in Saudi Arabia, trying to finish their seasons on a excessive.

Poland’s Iga Swiatek, Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, USA duo Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, China’s Zheng Qinwen and Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova have every certified.

We check out every of their seasons to this point…

Iga Swiatek – Extra French Open glory, 4 WTA 1000 titles

The reigning WTA Finals champion is Poland’s Swiatek, and he or she has loved one other stellar yr, however when it comes to Grand Slam titles has solely the French Open to indicate for her efforts in 2024.

The 23-year-old proved totally dominant on clay once more, defeating Paolini 6-2 6-1 within the French capital for her third Roland Garros championship win in succession.

Swiatek couldn’t repeat the trick on the similar venue for the Paris Olympic Video games in August, nonetheless, struggling a shock semi-final defeat to Qinwen, marking her first loss in Paris after 1149 days of staying undefeated. Swiatek would go on to win the bronze medal.

In any other case this yr, Swiatek impressively clinched 4 WTA 1000 titles, successful on the Qatar Open, Indian Wells, Madrid Open and Italian Open.

By way of her efficiency on the different three Grand Slams, Swiatek suffered third-round exits at each the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and a quarter-final loss on the US Open.

Within the last of the 2023 WTA Finals in Cancun, Swiatek dominated Pegula 6-1 6-0 to win and regain her world No 1 rating from Sabalenka. The Pole went 5-0 on the WTA tour’s season-closing championship, successful all 10 units she performed and ceding a complete of simply 20 video games.

Such kind was the fewest by the match’s winner since 2003, when it returned to a round-robin format. The earlier low in that point was the 34 video games dropped by Justine Henin in 2007.

Aryna Sabalenka – Australian Open, US Open Grand Slam success, two WTA 1000 titles

Sabalenka has loved a vastly productive season up to now, clinching two of the 4 Grand Slam titles on provide.

The 26-year-old beat Qinwen for her second successive Australian Open title in January, and extra just lately beat Pegula to land her maiden US Open title in September.

Elsewhere in 2024, Sabalenka additionally clinched two WTA 1000 titles within the type of the Cincinnati Open and Wuhan Open, shedding an additional two finals – each to Swiatek – on the Madrid Open and Italian Open.

Sabalenka was pressured to tug out of Wimbledon this yr on account of a shoulder harm picked up in Berlin, with the harm additionally inflicting her to overlook the Olympic Video games.

She was knocked out of the French Open on the quarter-final stage by Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.

Sabalenka has made the ultimate of the WTA Finals as soon as earlier than in 2022, shedding to France’s Caroline Garcia.

Jasmine Paolini – Two Grand Slam finals and a maiden WTA 1000 title

Regardless of being 28 years outdated, 2024 was an actual breakout marketing campaign for Italian Paolini as she made two Grand Slam finals having beforehand solely made the second spherical of any, and secured her first WTA 1000 title.

Paolini broke new floor by making the fourth spherical of the Australian Open in January, after which made the finals of each the French Open and Wimbledon later within the yr, ending as runner-up to Swiatek and Krejcikova respectively.

In February, Paolini got here from a set all the way down to beat Anna Kalinskaya and clinch the Dubai Championships (WTA 1000).

She made the fourth spherical of the US Open too, shedding to the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova.

Qinwen Zheng – Olympic gold, Grand Slam finalist and WTA 1000 finalist too

China’s 22-year-old Qinwen is one other tennis star to have made a breakthrough marketing campaign, clinching a surprising Olympic Video games gold in Paris by beating Croatia’s Donna Vekic in straight units.

Qinwen beat Emma Navarro, Angelique Kerber – coming from a set all the way down to beat each – and Swiatek en path to the ultimate at Roland Garros.

Again in January, Qinwen additionally made her very first Grand Slam last, taking place to Sabalenka on the Australian Open.

Within the yr’s different Grand Slams, Qinwen was knocked out within the Wimbledon first spherical and French Open third spherical, however did put collectively a run to the US Open quarter-finals.

A maiden WTA 1000 title nonetheless alludes Qinwen, however she did just lately make her first last on the Wuhan Open, shedding to Sabalenka.

Barbora Krejcikova – Wimbledon champion in opposition to the percentages

The shock Grand Slam results of the season noticed the Czech Republic’s Krejcikova clinch her first-ever Wimbledon title, and solely the second Grand Slam of her profession following the 2021 French Open.

In any other case in 2024, the 28-year-old made the Australian Open quarter-finals, however suffered disappointing early exits at Roland Garros (first spherical) and the US Open (second spherical). She additionally made the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics.

Krejcikova qualifies regardless of sitting within the No 12 place on the Race to the WTA Finals leaderboard. She secured her place in Riyadh as the very best ranked Grand Slam singles champion ending between No 8-20 on the leaderboard.

That is the primary yr such a situation is a qualification rule for the WTA, and it is the USA’s Emma Navarro – sat eighth within the Race to the WTA Finals record – who’s the unfortunate one to overlook out.

Jessica Pegula – Grand Slam finalist and WTA 1000 title

The USA’s Pegula broke new private floor this yr by making a Grand Slam last for the very first time in her profession, shedding to Sabalenka within the US Open on house soil final month.

The 30-year-old additionally tasted WTA 1000 success within the form of defending her Canadian Open title (her third WTA 1000 success), beating Amanda Anisimova within the last.

Pegula additionally made the Cincinnati Open last, the place Sabalenka once more proved too powerful an opponent.

The opposite three Grand Slams proved disappointing for Pegula earlier within the yr, as she was knocked out on the second spherical of each the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and was pressured to withdraw from the French Open on account of neck and again accidents.

Pegula confirmed her high quality to make the ultimate of the WTA Finals final season, however went down closely to Swiatek.

Coco Gauff – Grand Slam semi-finals and WTA 1000 title

It is laborious to consider the USA’s Gauff remains to be solely 20 years outdated, however having tasted US Open title success in 2023, she fell within the fourth spherical in her defence this yr.

Elsewhere, Gauff did put collectively runs to the Australian Open and French Open semi-finals, whereas she misplaced within the fourth spherical at Wimbledon too.

She picked up the second WTA 1000 title of her profession by successful the China Open in 2024, making an additional three WTA 1000 semi-finals.

Elena Rybakina – Wimbledon semi-final, two WTA 1000 finals

The 2022 Wimbledon champion, Kazakhstan’s Rybakina is the one participant on the WTA Finals record of eight who didn’t win both a Grand Slam or WTA 1000 title this yr – with the exception being Qinwen Zheng, who secured Olympic gold.

Rybakina made it to the semi-finals at Wimbledon, and was favorite from that place to go on and clinch her second Grand Slam success, however was surprisingly overwhelmed by eventual winner Krejcikova.

Elsewhere, the 25-year-old was pressured to tug out of the US Open on account of a decrease again harm, was overwhelmed by Paolini within the French Open quarter-finals, and suffered a second spherical exit on the Australian Open.

Rybakina made two WTA 1000 finals in 2024, shedding on the Qatar Open to Swiatek and Miami Open to American Danielle Collins.

The place is it being hosted?

Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh will host the WTA Finals for the highest eight singles gamers and prime eight doubles groups for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 tournaments.

The ladies’s skilled tennis tour introduced the three-year deal will see prize cash for this November’s match raised to $15.25m (£12m), a 70-per-cent enhance from 2023.

Earlier hosts have been Cancun (2023), Fort Value (2022), Guadalajara (2021), Shenzhen (2019), Singapore (2014-2018), Istanbul (2011-2013), Doha (2008-2010), Madrid (2006-2007), Los Angeles (2002-2005, 1974-1976), Munich (2001), New York (1979-2000, 1977), Oakland (1978), Boca Raton (1972-1973).

What’s developing on Sky Sports activities Tennis in October?

• Hong Kong Tennis Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
• Jiangxi Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
• Merida Open Akron – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
• Rolex Paris Masters – ATP 1000 (October 28 – November 3)
• WTA Finals Riyadh – (November 2-9)
• Belgrade Open – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
• Moselle Open, Metz – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
• Nitto ATP Finals, Turin – (November 10-17)

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