2024 WTA Finals Groups: Swiatek, Gauff, Pegula In Orange; Sabalenka Big Favorite In Purple

Earlier this week, the WTA Finals groups were announced and there’s a clear imbalance as the Orange Group features three threats in Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula while the Purple Group has Aryna Sabalenka and perhaps Zheng Qinwen as the favorites.

Overall, the big stories at the WTA Finals Riyadh is a) the fact the WTA gave in to the money to host the event in Saudi Arabia where women are no where near equal footing as men; and, b) the battle for the year-end No. 1 comes down to Sabalenka and Swiatek.

“Our decision was made with full consultation with our players and with our tournaments,” new WTA chief executive Portia Archer told the press on Friday. “I think that that led to the decision to come here and being comfortable with it.

“We often play in environments and in countries that have different customs, different cultures, and in some cases different value systems than I might have personally or that the WTA may have as an organization based in the United States, for example. We take care to respect those local customs. We may not always agree with some of the policies in place in a particular country.

“We feel comfortable in our decision and we think that it will support women in tennis and enable some very positive things to come out of us being here that will last well beyond the eight days that we’re here this year and successively the next two years when we host the tournament here.”

While the debate will rage as to whether it was right of the WTA to hold the event there — remember they gave in to China despite no Peng Shuai update — the show will go on and someone will win, and we know Saudi Arabia will be among the winners.

As for the No. 1 ranking, Sabalenka and Swiatek will once again battle it out with the Polish star having to win the title to have a chance. If Sabalenka makes the final or wins all three matches in her round robin, she finishes No. 1 for a first time.

Thanks to the Kingdom, a whopping $15.25 million is up for grabs and a undefeated winner will take $5.155 million!

Here’s how the draw unfolded:

2024 WTA FINALS GROUPINGS
Purple Group
[1] Aryna Sabalenka
[4] Jasmine Paolini
[5] Elena Rybakina
[7] Zheng Qinwen

Orange Group
[2] Iga Swiatek
[3] Coco Gauff
[6] Jessica Pegula
[8] Barbora Krejcikova

You Might Like:
2024 WTA Finals Day 3: Sabalenka To Face Paolini; Swiatek Rallies, Gauff Bests Pegula
2024 WTA Finals Day 6: Zheng Makes SFs; Swiatek Must Win, Then Depend On Gauff
WTA Finals: Sabalenka, Swiatek Battle For No. 1; Gauff Looks To Play Spoiler
Swiatek Swats Away Garcia At WTA Finals; Kasatkina Eliminates Gauff
2024 WTA Finals SF: Sabalenka v Gauff, Zheng v Krejcikova SF; Swiatek Wins But Out