The WTA Finals are here, and the stage is set for an electrifying showdown! The culmination of the 2025 season brings together the world's top eight singles players and doubles teams in Riyadh. Get ready for a thrilling round-robin format where every match counts. But how does this all work? Let's break it down.
Tournament Format: A Quick Refresher
The eight singles players are divided into two groups of four, each battling it out in a round-robin stage. This means every player will face off against the other three in their group, playing a total of three matches. Victories are worth three points each. In case of ties, the head-to-head record determines who advances. If a three-way tie occurs, the tiebreaker is determined by matches played, total sets won, and total games won.
The top two players from each group will then progress to the semifinals, where the group winners face the runners-up from the opposite group. The semifinals and finals are single-elimination matches, where the stakes are higher than ever.
The doubles field follows the same exciting format.
Singles Groups: The Contenders
Here's a look at the groups:
- Stefanie Graf Group: Aryna Sabalenka (1), Coco Gauff (3), Jessica Pegula (5), Jasmine Paolini (8)
- Serena Williams Group: Iga Swiatek (2), Amanda Anisimova (4), Elena Rybakina (6), Madison Keys (7)
Doubles Groups: The Teams
- Martina Navratilova Group: Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini (1), Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko (6), Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens (4), Asia Muhammad and Demi Schuurs (8)
- Liezel Huber Group: Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend (2), Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider (5), Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe (3), Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani (7)
Singles Matchups: Head-to-Head Highlights
Let's dive into some key matchups:
Stefanie Graf Group
- Aryna Sabalenka vs. Coco Gauff: A French Open final rematch? Absolutely! This match will be the 2025 rubber match between two of the top players and Grand Slam champions. Sabalenka previously beat Gauff in Madrid on clay.
- Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jessica Pegula: These two have a history of memorable matches. Sabalenka dominated Pegula in the Miami final, but Pegula came back to upset Sabalenka in the US Open semifinals. Pegula returned the favor a month later, upsetting Sabalenka in Wuhan.
- Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jasmine Paolini: Sabalenka won their match in Miami. Paolini gave Sabalenka a tougher fight on clay in Stuttgart, but Sabalenka still won.
- Coco Gauff vs. Jessica Pegula: Gauff recently beat her friend and former doubles partner in the Wuhan final. It was their first match since last year's WTA Finals, which Gauff won.
- Coco Gauff vs. Jasmine Paolini: Gauff and Paolini have played frequently in 2025. Paolini won their first three meetings of the season, but Gauff is the most recent victor, edging Paolini in the Wuhan semifinals.
- Jessica Pegula vs. Jasmine Paolini: Pegula has a perfect record against Paolini, but they haven't played in two years.
Serena Williams Group
- Iga Swiatek vs. Amanda Anisimova: They've only played twice, but both matches were memorable. Swiatek won in the Wimbledon final, but Anisimova upset Swiatek in the US Open quarterfinals.
- Iga Swiatek vs. Elena Rybakina: Swiatek has dominated Rybakina in 2025, winning all four matches and dropping only one set.
- Iga Swiatek vs. Madison Keys: Keys pulled off an upset in the Australian Open semifinals. They met again in Madrid, where Swiatek won.
- Amanda Anisimova vs. Elena Rybakina: They have never played each other.
- Amanda Anisimova vs. Madison Keys: Anisimova is making her WTA Finals debut. It will be interesting to see them face each other.
- Elena Rybakina vs. Madison Keys: Keys beat Rybakina in the Australian Open quarterfinals. They met again in Cincinnati, where Rybakina won.
But here's where it gets controversial... Will the head-to-head records hold up under the pressure of the WTA Finals? Which matchups are you most excited to see, and who do you think will come out on top? Share your predictions in the comments below!
