The WTA Finals are almost upon us and the world number one ranking is up for grabs in Saudi Arabia.
Naturally, the main focus of the highly-anticipated tournament is on the battle between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. The Polish sensation enters the tournament as the reigning champion but her rival is currently top of the rankings after her latest win in Wuhan.
As the two powerhouses battle it out for domination, there are six other stars in contention for the 2024 WTA Finals title. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will return to represent the USA, having both also taken to the stage last year in Mexico.
Gauff made it to the 2023 semi-final after winning her first-ever Grand Slam poetically at the US Open. Meanwhile, Pegula was denied the trophy by Swiatek, who added her maiden Finals title to her growing trophy cabinet after another triumph at Roland-Garros.
As the two powerhouses battle it out for domination, there are six other stars in contention for the 2024 WTA Finals title. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will return to represent the USA, having both also taken to the stage last year in Mexico.
Gauff made it to the 2023 semi-final after winning her first-ever Grand Slam poetically at the US Open. Meanwhile, Pegula was denied the trophy by Swiatek, who added her maiden Finals title to her growing trophy cabinet after another triumph at Roland-Garros.
If Gauff or Pegula can go all the way in Riyadh this year, they will become the seventh American tennis player to win the WTA Finals. Let’s take a look back through the archives at every US star to win the title so far.
Chris Evert (4)
Chris Evert was no stranger to making history during her decorated career on the court, so it’s no real surprise that she won the first-ever Finals. Evert beat Australia’s Kerry Melville in 1972 at the inaugural tournament then known as the Virginia Slims Championships.
The Florida-born star went on to win three more Finals. Evert defended her title in 1973 and then won again in 1975 and 1977.
Martina Navratilova (8)
After losing to major rival Evert in the 1975 final, Martina Navratilova decided to use her near miss as fuel. The 18-time major singles winner triumphed at eight Tour Finals throughout her career, winning her first in 1978.
Navratilova won again in 1979 and 1981, before embarking on a three-year reign between 1983 and 1986. No player has won more women’s Tour Finals than Navratilova.
Tracy Austin (1)
Tracy Austin won just one Tour Finals during her career but it was certainly one to remember. After losing out to Navratilova in the 1979 final, the two met in a rematch the following year and this time, Austin emerged victorious. The two-time US Open champion won 6–2, 2–6, 6–2, breaking up what would have been a four-year reign for Navratilova.
Lindsay Davenport (1)
After winning her first Wimbledon singles title in 1999, Lindsay Davenport rounded off her milestone year with a triumph at the WTA Tour Championships. She beat reigning champion Martina Hingis in straight sets to lift the trophy. Davenport has also won three Finals on the doubles stage, alongside three different partners.
Serena Williams (5)
It wouldn’t be a list of US tennis achievements without featuring Serena Williams. The ‘Queen of the Court’ won five WTA Finals during her glittering career, the first coming in 2001, two years after winning her first major title at the 1999 US Open.
After 2001, Williams went on to win 22 more Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal, and four more Tour Finals on the singles stage. The Career Golden Slam holder lifted her second Finals trophy in 2009 before her three-year reign from 2012 to 2014. Williams is the most recent American player to claim the honor.
Venus Williams (1)
Venus Williams also managed to secure the trophy during her iconic career. In 2008, she beat Russia’s Vera Zvonareva to win her first and only WTA Finals, following her fifth singles title at Wimbledon. She also won her third doubles title with Serena at the All England Club that year.
In 2009, Venus reached the last two of the WTA Finals again but was snubbed by her sister. She reached another final in 2017 but lost out to Caroline Wozniacki.
