The 2022 WTA Finals will be held in Fort Worth, Texas from October 31st to November 7th with the eight best singles players and doubles teams set to battle it out at WTA’s showpiece event. So let us take a closer look at the eight singles players who have qualified for the season-ending finale.
WTA Finals 2022
1. Iga Swiatek
Perhaps the least-surprising name on the list is Iga Swiatek. No WTA player has been more dominant this year than the 21-year-old Pole. Swiatek has amassed eight titles including two Grand Slams and is the heavy pre-tournament favorite in Fort Worth. Her most recent success came in San Diego where she beat Donna Vekic in three sets to improve to 24-1 on US soil this year. Earlier this season Swiatek established a jaw-dropping 37-match win streak and ascended to #1 with unprecedented poise following Ashleigh Barty’s shock retirement.
Did you know: Swiatek owns a Tour-leading 64 match wins in 2022, the most since Serena Williams won 78 matches in 2013 (including Billie Jean King Cup matches). She is also the first Polish player, man or woman, to ascend to world #1.
2. Ons Jabeur
Ons Jabeur has taken another giant stride in her quest to script a career worthy of Hall of Fame status. Being Tunisia’s most prominent athlete means that Jabeur has written up a number of firsts. Despite falling short in her pursuit to land a Grand Slam title (finishing runner-up at Wimbledon and US Open), Jabeur is still betting on herself to achieve more success in the coming season. She is not defending any points at the Australian Open next year and is already eyeing Swiatek’s #1 spot. Jabeur is the first Arab player to qualify for the WTA Finals.
Did you know: Jabeur achieved a career-high ranking of world #2 in June this year, becoming the highest-ranked African and Arab tennis player to do so in ATP and WTA rankings history.
3. Jessica Pegula
Next in line is Jessica Pegula. With the event taking place on US soil for the first time since 2005, it was only fitting that the current American #1 is also in the field. And Pegula will have a lot of court time in Fort Worth. She has also secured her place in the doubles event alongside Coco Gauff. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a stellar rise in 2022, making the quarterfinals in three of the four Grand Slams. She reached her biggest WTA final at the start of May in Madrid (lost to Jabeur).
Did you know: Pegula and Gauff will be the first American pair to feature in singles and doubles at the WTA Finals since Serena and Venus Williams in 2009.
4. Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff continues to motor as she took another leap towards stardom. The American teenage sensation has qualified at the season-ending finale for the first time and is the youngest player in the eight-woman field. Gauff has compiled another solid year, with more match wins than in any of her previous four seasons on Tour. She reached her first Grand Slam final at the French Open without dropping a set and only the irrepressible Swiatek denied her glory.
Did you know: Gauff is the youngest American to compete at the WTA Finals since Lindsay Davenport in 1994.
#5. Caroline Garcia
Caroline Garcia started the year ranked 74th in the world rankings. But a sensational second half of the campaign has catapulted her into the world’s top 10 for the second time in her career. The Frenchwoman won three titles in the span of three months and reached the US Open semifinals. She is also the only player in the WTA Finals field to beat Iga Swiatek this season (in Warsaw).
Did you know: Caroline Garcia is the only WTA player to win titles on all three surfaces this year (Bad Homburg, Warsaw, and Cincinnati).
6. Maria Sakkari
Maria Sakkari secured her place at the WTA Finals for the second year running. The Greek has endured a mixed year, with four runner-up finishes to her name including the Guadalajara final just a week ago. Sakkari has compiled a 37-22 record in 2022 and is one of only three players who started the year inside the top 10 and did not drop out.
Did you know: In March this year, Sakkari reached a career-high ranking of #3, becoming the highest-ranked Greek player (alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas) to achieve that feat.
7. Aryna Sabalenka
For the third straight year, Aryna Sabalenka will finish the season inside the top 10. It has not been a rosy year by any means, with her serving yips costing her a few matches at the start of the season. Sabalenka embraced the challenge and overcame a slow start to punch her ticket at the season-ending championships. Overall, the Belarusian powerhouse has tallied 30 wins this season, reaching finals in Stuttgart and Den Bosch.
Did you know: Sabalenka is the first player to reach back-to-back US Open semifinals since Serena Williams two years ago.
8. Daria Kasatkina
Last to make the cut is Daria Kasatkina. Arguably the most surprising name in the list, but a merited inclusion nonetheless. Kasatkina has put together the finest season of her career, winning two titles and reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros without dropping a set before falling to eventual winner Iga Swiatek.
Did you know: Daria Kasatkina made the semifinals or better in six tournaments on all three surfaces.
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