WTA Finals 2024: How to watch, prize money, dates, prediction and everything you need to know
Unlike any other tournament on the WTA Tour, the WTA Finals also features a unique format to crown a champion from the mere eight players who qualify. Players are only eligible to go to the WTA Finals if they have played in at least eight WTA 1,000 or WTA 500 tournaments.
Everything you need to know about the 2024 WTA Finals
The WTA Finals in 2024 also sees Iga Swiatek feature as the sole returning singles winner. Of the other seven competitors, just two have also reached a final, while the 2024 edition is the WTA Finals debut for two players who will now look to write their names in history books.
Martina Navratilova headlines the history of the WTA Finals with eight titles to be the most successful singles player yet. Steffi Graf and Serena Williams sit second in the history books with five titles at the WTA Finals, in front of Chris Evert who won the showpiece four times.
So, with that in mind, The Tennis Gazette covers everything that you need to know ahead of the 2024 WTA Finals, from the prize money to how to watch the tournament in the USA…
When will the 2024 WTA Finals take place?
The 2024 WTA Finals will start on Saturday, November 2 and will continue until the final on Saturday, November 9. But the WTA Tour is so far yet to confirm the timings of the matches.
What is the format for the 2024 WTA Finals?
Unlike with a traditional tennis tournament, the WTA Tour uses a unique format for the WTA Finals which sees players for the singles and doubles titles drawn into groups of four players. The groups then play a round-robin format, from which the top two go on to the semi-finals.
The WTA decides the standings for the group stage based firstly on the number of wins each player achieves. If needed, the WTA then looks at the most matches played and the head-to-head record of the affected players if there is a two-way tie or extra criteria in a three-way.
A three-way tie to decide the standings in the WTA Finals group stage initially focuses on the number of games the players contested. If one player contested fewer matches, they are not eligible to advance before the WTA considers the percentage of sets and then games won.
Group winners face the runners-up from the opposing group of the draw in the semi-final of the WTA Finals. The semi-finals and the final itself are then played with the standard system.
The WTA Tour players who qualified for the 2024 WTA Finals
The eight WTA Tour stars who qualified for the 2024 WTA Finals feature the women’s singles champions from the 2024 Australian Open, the US Open, the French Open and Wimbledon.
Aryna Sabalenka is looking to lift her first WTA Finals title in 2024 on the back of winning this year’s Australian Open and US Open titles. The Belarusian registered her personal best finish at the season-ending tournament in 2022 after Sabalenka lost to Caroline Garcia in the final.
Iga Swiatek goes to the 2024 WTA Finals as the defending champion after winning the 2023 edition in Cancun, Mexico. The Polish world No2 is also the reigning French Open champion.
Coco Gauff recorded her best finish at the WTA Finals in 2023 when the American lost in the semi-finals to Jessica Pegula who also returns in 2024. World No6 Jasmine Paolini is making her WTA Finals debut in 2024, just like world No7 Zheng Qinwen as the sole other debutant.
Elena Rybakina, meanwhile, qualified for the Russian-born Kazakhstani’s second appearance at the WTA Finals in 2024 after penning a losing 1-2 record through the group stage in 2023.
Reigning Wimbledon women’s singles champion Barbora Krejcikova also returns to the WTA Finals in her second appearance at the season-ending tournament in 2024. The Czech went 0-3 in the group phase on debut in 2021, but won the doubles title with Katerina Siniakova.
What is the draw for the 2024 WTA Finals?
The WTA Tour held the draw for the group stage of the 2024 WTA Finals with a ceremony in Jeddah ahead of the tournament on Tuesday, October 29 – resulting in the following games:
WTA Finals 2024 Purple Group:
[1] Aryna Sabalenka
[4] Jasmine Paolini
[5] Elena Rybakina
[7] Zheng Qinwen
WTA Finals 2024 Orange Group:
[2] Iga Swiatek
[3] Coco Gauff
[6] Jessica Pegula
[8] Barbora Krejcikova
Who won the 2023 WTA Finals?
Where will the 2024 WTA Finals take place?
While Cancun, Mexico hosted to the WTA Finals in 2023, the WTA Tour has taken the 2024 event to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It marks the first time that the WTA Finals has taken place in Saudi Arabia and will return to Riyadh in 2025 and 2026, as well, as part of a multi-year deal.
- Location: King Saud University Indoor Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Total capacity: 10,000 seated
What is the prize money for the 2024 WTA Finals?
The WTA Tour taking the WTA Finals to Saudi Arabia for the first time in 2024 has also seen it increase the prize money by 70% compared to 2023 with $15.25m up for grabs. The WTA is set to confirm the full breakdown for the event prize money closer to the 2024 WTA Finals.
How to watch the 2024 WTA Finals in the USA
Fans in the USA can watch every game from the 2024 WTA Finals live on TV with the Tennis Channel, which also offers streaming services via its app and various TV streaming partners.
Our writers predict the winner of the 2024 WTA Finals
Ahead of the WTA Tour’s season-ending event in Saudi Arabia, our expert team of writers at The Tennis Gazette have predicted who they think will win the 2024 WTA Finals singles’ title.
Callum Davies: “With the WTA Finals looming, it only really feels like there will be one winner on the indoor hard courts of Riyadh. After all, Aryna Sabalenka has claimed both Grand Slam titles on similar surfaces in New York and Melbourne, crushing all in her way.
“Meanwhile, her biggest competition in the form of Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are both suffering from coaching changes, with the latter suffering with a similar serving crisis to the one the Belarusian once endured.
“As such, it’s hard to suggest anyone other than Sabalenka for the title. Zheng Qinwen is one to look out for, though, with the Chinese superstar having enjoyed a stellar 2024. She could cause an upset, and has troubled the 26-year-old at times.”
Sammy France: “While the spotlight will understandably be focused on the battle for No1 between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, it may well be a wholly underwhelming finale.
“Debutant Zheng Qinwen has only managed to take a set off the Belarusian in their nine sets played. However, with the rest of the field struggling for consistency or settling into a new coaching arrangement, the finals serve as the perfect spot for the in-form Olympic champion to disrupt the narrative once again.”
George Patten: “As the WTA Finals approach, there are two clear favorites for the title: Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, who have been dominant on the WTA Tour in 2024, winning three of the four Grand Slam titles and currently occupy the top spots in the world rankings.
“However, the form player heading into the event is neither Swiatek nor Sabalenka but instead Zheng Qinwen. The Chinese star has had a sensational breakout year in 2024, winning an Olympic gold medal as well as winning a further two tour-level titles.
“She most recently won the Pan Pacific Open in Japan and can ride that wave of momentum all the way to the biggest title of her career in Riyadh.”
