The top eight singles players and top eight doubles pairs will compete in the WTA finals tournament, which takes place in Cancun, Mexico, from October 29 to November 5.
It’s estimated that the WTA has set aside $14–15 million for the modular stadium that will be built for the competition in Cancun. The temporary stadium, which can hold 4,000 spectators, will be built close to the participant hotel. There will be a few practice courts as well.
But a recent video of the stadium surfaced online, demonstrating that construction is still being done, even though there are just four days left before the season-ending match begins.
Iga Swiatek has been in Cancun for a few days, while Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Aryna Sabalenka have just arrived. Tennis fans were surprised by the glimpse of the incomplete stadium and criticized the WTA for its incompetence and disorder.
A fan expressed surprise at the WTA’s lack of planning for the championship match and tweeted: “I don’t ever recall the WTA being this unprepared for the Women’s Year End Championship. Well, with the exception of last year’s.”
Another fan wrote: “We need the WTA girlies to riot at this point.”
Another tennis fan made the joke that the players could always use the Rafa Nadal Training Center, which is situated north of Cancun, as a fallback training ground. He tweeted: “Wow. The ladies can go practice at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center at the Grand Palladium in Cancun, I guess. I heard they have great camps.”
Coco Gauff in 2023
Ranked world no.3 (career-high), Gauff played her last match on the 7th of October when she lost to world no.2 Iga Swiatek 6-2 6-3 in the semifinal in Beijing (draw).
During this season Coco has an overall 49-14 record. Coco clinched 4 titles in 2023 in Auckland, Washington, Cincinnati and U.S. Open.
Jessica Pegula in 2023
Ranked no.5, the American played her last match on the 15th of October when she beat world no.95 Yue Yuan 6-2 6-3 in the final in Seoul to win her 5th career title.
Presently, during this year Jessica has achieved a composed 55-17 record. Jessica has won 3 titles in 2023 in Australia, Montreal and Seoul. Pegula was the finalist in Doha and Tokyo.
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula squared off 3 times. The head to head is 2-1 for Pegula. Previously, the last time they played, Jessica Pegula won 6-2 5-7 7-5 in the quarter in Montreal (Omnium Banque Nationale) on the 11th of August 2023.
Here the video highlights.
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula |
| Embed from Getty Images |