Riyadh, dates, players, prize money: Everything you ever wanted to know about the 2024 WTA Finals (but never had time to find out) – updated after the final

All you need to know about the 2024 WTA Finals, the season-ending finale in women’s tennis, which was held in Saudi Arabia

Coco Gauff wins the 2024 WTA Finals STR/AP/SIPA

Carrie Dunn

November 9, 2024

What are the WTA Finals?

The WTA Finals are the season-ending finale to the women’s tennis season, where the top eight singles players and doubles teams compete for the championship. The first event was played in 1972, held in Boca Raton, Florida.

who won the 2024 wta finals?

Coco Gauff won the 2024 WTA Finals singles event, beating Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) in a dramatic and epic final.

Gabriela Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe beat Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend in the doubles final to lift the 2024 WTA Finals doubles title.

Which players qualified for the singles semi-finals?

Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen from Purple Group, and Barbora Krejcikova and Coco Gauff from the Orange Group qualified for the semi-finals in the singles event.

Krejcikova’s win over Gauff in the final group match eliminated Iga Swiatek from the semi-finals.

The fantastic four in Riyadh…😤✨

Semifinal singles play will begin tomorrow not before 6pm local time.#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/9mcGE2fIDj
— wta (@WTA) November 7, 2024

Which doubles teams qualified for the semi-finals at the WTA Finals?

Katerina Siniakova/ Taylor Townsend and Nicole Melichar-Martinez/ Ellen Perez qualified for the semi-finals from the Green Group. Gabriela Dabrowski/ Erin Routliffe and Chan Hao-ching/ Veronika Kudermetova advanced from the White Group.

The BUSINESS END of the business end of the season 🧳

It's semifinals day at the #WTAFinalsRiyadh! pic.twitter.com/tv8Z5eXKPz
— wta (@WTA) November 8, 2024

WhO ARE THE EIGHT singles players for the 2024 Finals?

In singles, all eight players have qualified for the season finale. Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka were the first two players to qualify for the tournament, followed by Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, and Jessica Pegula. Most recently, Zheng Qinwen and Barbora Krejcikova rounded out the lineup.

The official draw was released on Tuesday, October 29, with Sabalenka leading the Purple Group as the No 1 seed and Swiatek the Orange Group as the No 2 seed. Here’s how the two groups look after the draw ceremony:

Purple Group

Aryna Sabalenka (1)
Jasmine Paolini (4)
Elena Rybakina (5)
Zheng Qinwen (7)

Orange Group

Iga Swiatek (2)
Coco Gauff (3)
Jessica Pegula (6)
Barbora Krejcikova (8)

Which eight doubles teams haVE qualified for the 2024 WTA Finals?

The eight qualified teams for the 2024 Finals are:

Lyudmyla Kichenok/Jelena Ostapenko
Su-Wei Hsieh/Elise Mertens
Jasmine Paolini/Sara Errani
Gabriela Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe
Desirae Krawczyk/Caroline Dolehide
Taylor Townsend/Katerina Siniakova
Nicole Melichar/Ellen Perez
Chan Hao-Ching/Veronika Kudermetova

The teams have been split into groups of two with the Kichenok-Ostapenko pair declared the No 1 seed and set to start their campaing in Green Group. The Dabrowski-Routliffe duo will lead the White Group as the second-seeded team.

Here’s how the two groups look like after the draw ceremony:

Green Group

Lyudmyla Kichenok/Jelena Ostapenko (1)
Su-Wei Hsieh/Elise Mertens (3)
Nicole Melichar/Ellen Perez (6)
Taylor Townsend/Katerina Siniakova (8)

White Group

Gabriela Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe (2)
Jasmine Paolini/Sara Errani (4)
Desirae Krawczyk/Caroline Dolehide (5)
Chan Hao-Ching/Veronika Kudermetova (7)

🚨 It’s the final countdown 🚨

The groups are set for the #WTAFinalsRiyadh presented by #PIF and we are in for some mind-blowing matches!

Which are you looking most forward to? pic.twitter.com/EW6YQSOxcl
— wta (@WTA) October 29, 2024

Where IS the 2024 WTA Finals beING held?

The 2024 WTA Finals will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of a three-year deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation to host the Finals. The event will be held from November 2-9.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the next three editions of the WTA Finals from 2024-2026.

The 2024 season-ending Finals will take place November 2-9, featuring the top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the Race to the #WTAFinals
— wta (@WTA) April 4, 2024

Why is the 2024 WTA Finals controversial?

Because of where it’s being played. Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has been widely criticised, while women’s rights are restricted and it is illegal to be gay.

What prize money is on offer at the 2024 WTA Finals?

The 2024 Finals will feature record prize money of $15.25 million, which the Saudi Tennis Federation and WTA say is guaranteed to rise in both 2025 and 2026.

Who is the defending champion at the WTA Finals?

Iga Swiatek won the WTA Finals in 2023, beating Jessica Pegula in the final. The event was held in Cancun, Mexico, a late decision by the WTA. The competition was also heavily criticised by players and coaches because of the condition of the courts, not to mention the high winds the players faced all week.

WHO WON THE WTA FINALS DOUBLES TITLE IN 2023?

Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva won the doubles title at the WTA Finals in 2023, beating Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez in the final.

What is the format of the WTA Finals?

The eight singles players are divided into two groups and play each player in their group. The top two in each group qualify for the semi-finals.

Who HAS WON THE MOST WTA Finals TITLES?

Martina Navratilova (eight titles)
Steffi Graf and Serena Williams (five titles)
Chrissie Evert (four titles)
Monica Seles and Kim Clijsters (three titles)
Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Gabriela Sabatini, Martina Hingis, Justine Henin (two titles)
Tracy Austin, Sylvia Hanika, Jana Novotna, Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Amelie Mauresmo, Venus Williams, Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Dominika Cibulkova, Caroline Wozniacki, Elina Svitolina, Ash Barty, Garbine Muguruza, Caroline Garcia, Iga Swiatek (one title)