The 2024 WTA Finals, set to take place from November 2nd to 9th at the King Saud University Sports Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, promises to be an exciting culmination of the tennis season. This year’s event will feature the top eight singles players and doubles teams competing for a substantial prize pool of $15,250,000.
Prize Money
The prize money distribution for the 2024 WTA Finals is as follows:
Champion: $2,500,000
Runner-Up: $1,270,000
Round-Robin Win: $350,000 per match
Participation Fee: $335,000 per player
Undefeated Champion: $5,155,000
In addition to the financial rewards, players will also earn ranking points, with the champion receiving 500 points and the runner-up 400 points.
The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with players divided into two groups of four. The top two players from each group will advance to the semifinals, followed by the championship match.
Group Purple:
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Jasmine Paolini
- Elena Rybakina
- Qinwen Zheng
Group Orange:
- Iga Swiatek
- Coco Gauff
- Jessica Pegula
- Barbora Krejcikova
The Schedules
The schedule for the round-robin matches is as follows:
November 2nd: Matches 1 & 2
November 3rd: Matches 3 & 4
November 4th: Matches 5 & 6
November 5th: Matches 7 & 8
November 6th: Matches 9 & 10
November 7th: Matches 11 & 12
The semifinals will be held on November 8th, and the finals on November 9th.
The Controversy
The decision to host the WTA Finals in Riyadh has sparked controversy due to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. Tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert have voiced their opposition, arguing that values should come before money. However, others believe that engaging with Saudi Arabia and showcasing top female athletes could lead to positive changes in the country.
The 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh is set to be a thrilling event with high stakes both on and off the court. With a record-breaking prize pool and the year-end No. 1 ranking on the line, the competition is sure to be fierce. Tennis fans around the world will be eagerly watching as the best players battle it out for the prestigious title.
Are you excited about the upcoming WTA Finals?
Iga Swiatek in 2024
LWWWWLWWWW Currently the world no.2, the Pole played her last match on the 4th of September when she capitulated to world no.6 Jessica Pegula 6-2 6-4 in the quarter of the U.S. Open (draw).
During this season Swiatek has managed to achieve a 59-8 win-loss record. The Pole clinched 6 titles in 2024 in Australia, Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome and French Open.
Aryna Sabalenka in 2024
WWWWWLWWWW Ranked world no.1, Aryna played her last match on the 13th of October when she overcame world no.7 Qinwen Zheng 6-3 5-7 6-3 in the final in Wuhan to win her 17th career title.
Currently, during this season the Belarussian owns a compiled 54-12 record. Aryna clinched 4 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Cincinnati, U.S. Open and Wuhan. Sabalenka was the runner-up in Brisbane, Madrid and Rome.
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka fought against each other 12 times. Their actual record is 8-4 for Swiatek.
