2025 WTA FINALS: all you need to know

The 2025 WTA Tour season will come to a climax in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the top eight women this year going head-to-head in the WTA Finals.

Coco Gauff returns to defend her title after a strong season, including a Slam win at Roland Garros.

She faces stiff competition from the star-studded field that includes, world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula.

DATE: 1-8 November

VENUE: King Saud University Indoor Arena

Follow the action live on SS Tennis and Variety 1.

THE BATTLE FOR YEAR-END NO. 1

SABALENKA’S FIRST WTA FINALS TITLE BID

World No 1 and US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has been dominant all year, but she’s never won the year-end championship. This is her chance to cap off a career-best season and solidify her No 1 status.

GAUFF’S TITLE DEFENSE

Gauff is the defending champion after winning in Riyadh last year. She also claimed the French Open and Wuhan Open in 2025. Back-to-back WTA Finals titles are rare—only four players have done it in the past 25 years.

SWIATEK’S VERSATILITY

Swiatek added Wimbledon to her résumé this season, proving she’s no longer just a clay-court specialist. A second WTA Finals crown would underline her adaptability and keep pressure on Sabalenka in the year-end No 1 race.

KEYS’ HISTORIC COMEBACK

Keys returns to the WTA Finals after nine years, the longest gap between appearances in tournament history. Her Australian Open win powered this comeback, but she’s been sidelined since the US Open with a wrist injury—fitness is a big question. [tennishead.net]

ANISIMOVA’S DEBUT

Amanda Anisimova makes her first WTA Finals appearance after a breakout season featuring four finals and a WTA 1000 title in Doha. How will she handle the pressure of this elite stage?

PEGULA’S CONSISTENCY

Pegula has quietly put together another strong season, reaching the semifinals at the US Open and finals in Wuhan. A WTA Finals title would be the biggest win of her career.

FORMAT

ROUND-ROBIN STAGE:

• Two groups of four players/teams.
• Each plays three matches.

KNOCKOUT STAGE:

• Top two from each group advance to semifinals.
• Winners meet in the final.

BIG PRIZE & PRESTIGE

Total prize money: $15.5 million.

Singles winner lifts the Billie Jean King Trophy.

With up to 1 500 ranking points on offer, this event can reshape the 2026 season outlook.