Aryna Sabalenka and fellow WTA stars posed for the official 2025 Finals photoshoot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ahead of the season-ending tournament held from November 1 to 8 at King Saud University Indoor Arena.
Spotlight on Riyadh
The WTA Finals have returned to Riyadh for the second consecutive year, bringing together the top eight women of the season. Among them are world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, defending champion Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Elena Rybakina, Madison Keys, and Jasmine Paolini. The players gathered for a pre-tournament shoot that has sparked mixed reactions online.
The Finals mark the culmination of a year that saw Sabalenka win the US Open and reach three Grand Slam finals. Gauff arrives as the reigning champion, having won in Riyadh last year and added titles at Roland Garros and Wuhan in 2025.
Mixed Reactions to the Photoshoot
The official group photo, released on October 31, features the eight qualifiers in formal attire against a minimalist backdrop. While the shoot aimed to highlight elegance and unity, fans were quick to voice their opinions on social media.
“Who keeps putting Iga Swiatek in bedsheets?” “They all look sad”
Despite the online chatter, the players appeared focused and composed, ready to compete for one of the most prestigious titles in women’s tennis.
Sabalenka’s Bid for a First Title
Aryna Sabalenka enters the Finals as the top seed, having qualified early in the season. She expressed enthusiasm about returning to Riyadh, where she hopes to improve on last year’s performance.
“Honestly I cannot wait to get back. I love that place, I love to play there, and I hope that this year I can do better than I did last year,” Sabalenka said.
Martina Navratilova, commenting on Sabalenka’s consistency, added: “Her sustained high-level performances make her the favourite in the eight-player lineup.”
A Star-Studded Field
The 2025 edition of the WTA Finals features all four Grand Slam champions of the year. The tournament promises high-stakes matchups and a battle for the year-end No. 1 ranking. With Sabalenka, Gauff, and Swiatek all in contention, the event is set to deliver compelling tennis and dramatic storylines.
Aryna Sabalenka in 2025
LWWWWLWWWW Ranked no.1, Sabalenka played her last match on the 11th of October when she was defeated by world no.5 Jessica Pegula 2-6 6-4 7-6(2) in the semifinal in Wuhan (draw).
Presently, during this year the Belarussian owns a composed 59-11 match record. Aryna conquered 4 titles in 2025 in Brisbane, Miami, Madrid and U.S. Open. Sabalenka reached the final at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Stuttgart and French Open.
