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WTA Finals

Season-ending championship in women's tennis


Season-ending championship in women's tennis

FieldValue
nameWTA Finals
typewta
logo size200px
founded
editions54 (2025)
countryRiyadh, Saudi Arabia (2024–26)
venueKing Saud University Indoor Arena
tierWTA Finals
surfaceHard - indoors
draw8S / 8D (since 2014)
prize money$15.5M
websitewtafinals.com
completed event2025
singlesKAZ Elena Rybakina
doublesVeronika Kudermetova
BEL Elise Mertens

BEL Elise Mertens

The WTA Finals (formerly known as the WTA Tour Championships or WTA Championships) is the season-ending championship of the WTA Tour. It is the most significant tennis event in the women's annual calendar after the four majors, as it features the top eight singles players and top eight doubles teams based on their results throughout the season. The eighth spot is reserved, if needed, for a player or team who won a major in the current year and is ranked from ninth to twentieth.

The tournament predates the WTA Tour and started in 1972 as the championship tournament of the Tour's predecessor: the Virginia Slims Circuit. Since 2003, the tournament has used a unique format not seen in other WTA Tour events: the players are separated into two groups of four, within which they each play three round-robin matches. The top two players or teams from each group after the round-robin stage move on to a knock-out format in the semifinals and final to determine the champion.

The WTA Finals has the largest prize money and ranking points after the majors. The most successful player in both singles and doubles history is Martina Navratilova, with eight singles and 13 doubles titles.

In the tournament's current format, the champion can earn a maximum of 1,500 ranking points, if they win the event as an undefeated champion in the round-robin stage.

Tournament

History

The championships were held for the first time in October 1972 in Boca Raton, Florida (USA) as a climactic event at the end of a series of tournaments sponsored by Virginia Slims, called the Virginia Slims Circuit. From 1972 to 1974, the event was held in October, before switching to March from 1975 until 1986. The WTA then decided to adopt a January–November playing season, and so the event was switched to being held at the end of each year. As a consequence, there were two championships held in 1986.

The event was held in Los Angeles, California from 1974 to 1976 before moving to Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1977. With the exception of a one-year move to Oakland, California in 1978, the Championships remained at MSG until 2000. The event then briefly moved to Munich, Germany in 2001. More recently, it moved back to Los Angeles from 2002 to 2005. The 2006 and 2007 editions were held in Madrid, Spain. Doha, Qatar hosted the 2008–2010 editions before passing the flag to Istanbul, Turkey, which hosted the 2011–2013 editions. For the right to host the 2014 edition and beyond, 43 cities expressed an interest before a short list comprising Kazan, Russia; Mexico City, Mexico; Singapore; and Tianjin, China was drawn up in late 2012. Kazan and Mexico City were ruled out in early 2013 before Singapore was announced in May 2013 as the new host city for five years. In 2018, the WTA announced the host city from 2019 to 2028 would be Shenzhen, China, however due to COVID-19, the tournament was cancelled in 2020 and had to find alternative hosting sites from 2020 to 2023. In April 2024, the WTA announced that the host city from 2024 to 2026 would be Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The decision sparked criticism and protests from many quarters, including a few top players, due to the country's ongoing human rights's and women's policies.

Format

From 1984 to 1998, the final of the championships was a best-of-five-sets match, making it the only tournament on the women's tour to have had a best-of-five match at any round of the competition. It was the first time since the 1901 U.S. National Championships that the best-of-five format was used in women's matches. In 1999, the final reverted to being a best-of-three-sets match. From the 1974 until the 1982 edition the doubles draw consisted of four teams; then from 1983 to 2002 the draw increased to eight teams; was decreased back to four teams until 2013 and from the 2014 edition onward it has been made up of eight teams. From its first inception in 1973 until 2018 the doubles draw was played in a single elimination format. In 2015 and from 2019 until the present the doubles draw has been played in a round robin format.

Qualified players and teams participate in a round-robin format in two groups of four. The winners and runners-up of each group advance to the semifinals. The semifinal winners progress through to the finals where they compete for the title.

Qualification

To qualify for the WTA Finals, players compete throughout the year in WTA events throughout the world, as well as the ITF-sanctioned events, such as the four Grand Slams. Players earn ranking points on the leaderboard, and the top seven singles players and top seven doubles teams on this leaderboard at the conclusion of the WTA season (as of the Monday following the final regular season tournament) earn the right to compete in the WTA Finals. The eighth spot in the WTA Finals is awarded to the highest-ranking Grand Slam winner (and highest-ranking Grand Slam winning team for doubles) ranked 8-20 in the standings. If no player (and/or doubles team) meets this criterion, then the 8th ranked player (and/or doubles team) in the standings qualifies.

In singles, point totals are calculated by combining points from up to 18 tournaments. Of these tournaments, a player's point total is calculated based on the following: the four Grand Slam events, best six results of the seven combined WTA 1000 tournaments, best result of the three non-combined WTA 1000 tournaments, and lastly the next best seven results from all non-125 WTA tournaments. In doubles, point totals are calculated by the 12 best results among any of the non-125 WTA tournaments and Grand Slams.

Venues

YearsCityCountryVenueSurfaceCapacity
1972–73Boca RatonUnited StatesBoca Raton Hotel & ClubClay
1974–76Los AngelesUnited StatesLos Angeles Memorial Sports ArenaCarpet14,800
1977New York CityUnited StatesMadison Square GardenCarpet18,000
1978OaklandUnited StatesOakland ArenaCarpet13,200
1979–2000New York CityUnited StatesMadison Square GardenCarpet18,000
2001MunichGermanyOlympiahalleHard (i)12,000
2002–05Los AngelesUnited StatesStaples CenterHard (i)17,000
2006–07MadridSpainMadrid ArenaHard (i)10,500
2008–10DohaQatarKhalifa International Tennis and Squash ComplexHard6,911
2011–13IstanbulTurkeySinan Erdem DomeHard (i)16,410
2014–18SingaporeSingaporeSingapore Indoor StadiumHard (i)10,000
2019ShenzhenChinaShenzhen Bay Sports CenterHard (i)12,000
2021GuadalajaraMexicoPanamerican Tennis CenterHard6,639
2022Fort WorthUnited StatesDickies ArenaHard (i)14,000
2023CancúnMexicoEstadio ParadisusHard4,300
2024–26RiyadhSaudi ArabiaKing Saud University Indoor ArenaHard (i)

Prize money and points

The total prize money for the 2025 WTA Finals was a record US$15,250,000. The tables below break down the prize money, participation fees are prorated on a per match basis.

StagePrize moneyPointsSinglesDoublesChampionRunner-upRound robin win per matchParticipation FeeAlternates
RR + $2,540,000RR + $524,000RR + 900
RR + $1,290,000RR + $257,000RR + 400
+$355,000+$72,000200
$340,000$142,000
$260,000$109,000
  • An undefeated champion would earn the maximum 1,500 points and $5,235,000 in singles or $1,139,000 in doubles.
  • Participation fees are prorated on a per match basis. Singles: 1 match = $230,000 2 matches = $280,000 and 3 matches = $340,000. Doubles: 1 match = $95,000 2 matches = $116,000 and 3 matches = $142,000.
  • Alternate fees are also prorated on a per-match basis. Singles: 0 matches = $150,000, 1 match = $210,000, 2 matches = $260,000. Doubles: 0 matches= $63,000, 1 match = $88,000, 2 matches= $109,000

Since 2014, the singles and doubles winners of the tournament receive the Billie Jean King Trophy, made by Thomas Lyte, and the Martina Navratilova trophy, respectively.

List of finals

Singles

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1972USA Chris Evert (1/4)AUS Kerry Melville7–5, 6–4
1973USA Chris Evert (2/4)USA Nancy Richey Gunter6–3, 6–3
1974AUS Evonne Goolagong (1/2)USA Chris Evert6–3, 6–4
1975USA Chris Evert (3/4)TCH Martina Navratilova6–4, 6–2
1976AUS Evonne Goolagong Cawley (2/2)USA Chris Evert6–3, 5–7, 6–3
1977USA Chris Evert (4/4)GBR Sue Barker2–6, 6–1, 6–1
1978USA Martina Navratilova (1/8)AUS Evonne Goolagong Cawley7–6(7–2), 6–4
1979USA Martina Navratilova (2/8)USA Tracy Austin6–3, 3–6, 6–2
1980USA Tracy Austin (1/1)USA Martina Navratilova6–2, 2–6, 6–2
1981USA Martina Navratilova (3/8)USA Andrea Jaeger6–3, 7–6(7–3)
1982GER Sylvia Hanika (1/1)USA Martina Navratilova1–6, 6–3, 6–4
1983USA Martina Navratilova (4/8)USA Chris Evert6–2, 6–0
1984USA Martina Navratilova (5/8)USA Chris Evert6–3, 7–5, 6–1
1985USA Martina Navratilova (6/8)TCH Helena Suková6–3, 7–5, 6–4
nowrap[1986
(Mar.)](1986-virginia-slims-championships-march-singles)‡USA Martina Navratilova (7/8)TCH Hana Mandlíková6–2, 6–0, 3–6, 6–1
nowrap[1986
(Nov.)](1986-virginia-slims-championships-november-singles)‡USA Martina Navratilova (8/8)GER Steffi Graf7–6(8–6), 6–3, 6–2
1987GER Steffi Graf (1/5)ARG Gabriela Sabatini4–6, 6–4, 6–0, 6–4
1988ARG Gabriela Sabatini (1/2)USA Pam Shriver7–5, 6–2, 6–2
1989GER Steffi Graf (2/5)USA Martina Navratilova6–4, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2
1990YUG Monica Seles (1/3)ARG Gabriela Sabatini6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2
1991YUG Monica Seles (2/3)USA Martina Navratilova6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 6–0
1992FR Yugoslavia Monica Seles (3/3)USA Martina Navratilova7–5, 6–3, 6–1
1993GER Steffi Graf (3/5)ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario6–1, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1
1994ARG Gabriela Sabatini (2/2)USA Lindsay Davenport6–3, 6–2, 6–4
1995GER Steffi Graf (4/5)GER Anke Huber6–1, 2–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
1996GER Steffi Graf (5/5)SUI Martina Hingis6–3, 4–6, 6–0, 4–6, 6–0
1997CZE Jana Novotná (1/1)FRA Mary Pierce7–6(7–4), 6–2, 6–3
1998SUI Martina Hingis (1/2)USA Lindsay Davenport7–5, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2
1999USA Lindsay Davenport (1/1)SUI Martina Hingis6–4, 6–2
2000SUI Martina Hingis (2/2)USA Monica Seles6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–4
2001USA Serena Williams (1/5)USA Lindsay Davenportwalkover
2002BEL Kim Clijsters (1/3)USA Serena Williams7–5, 6–3
2003BEL Kim Clijsters (2/3)FRA Amélie Mauresmo6–2, 6–0
2004RUS Maria Sharapova (1/1)USA Serena Williams4–6, 6–2, 6–4
2005FRA Amélie Mauresmo (1/1)FRA Mary Pierce5–7, 7–6(7–3), 6–4
2006BEL Justine Henin (1/2)FRA Amélie Mauresmo6–4, 6–3
2007BEL Justine Henin (2/2)RUS Maria Sharapova5–7, 7–5, 6–3
2008USA Venus Williams (1/1)RUS Vera Zvonareva6–7(5–7), 6–0, 6–2
2009USA Serena Williams (2/5)USA Venus Williams6–2, 7–6(7–4)
2010BEL Kim Clijsters (3/3)DEN Caroline Wozniacki6–3, 5–7, 6–3
2011CZE Petra Kvitová (1/1)BLR Victoria Azarenka7–5, 4–6, 6–3
2012USA Serena Williams (3/5)RUS Maria Sharapova6–4, 6–3
2013USA Serena Williams (4/5)CHN Li Na2–6, 6–3, 6–0
2014USA Serena Williams (5/5)ROU Simona Halep6–3, 6–0
2015POL Agnieszka Radwańska (1/1)CZE Petra Kvitová6–2, 4–6, 6–3
2016SVK Dominika Cibulková (1/1)GER Angelique Kerber6–3, 6–4
2017DEN Caroline Wozniacki (1/1)USA Venus Williams6–4, 6–4
2018UKR Elina Svitolina (1/1)USA Sloane Stephens3–6, 6–2, 6–2
2019AUS Ashleigh Barty (1/1)UKR Elina Svitolina6–4, 6–3
2020No competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021ESP Garbiñe Muguruza (1/1)EST Anett Kontaveit6–3, 7–5
2022FRA Caroline Garcia (1/1)Aryna Sabalenka7–6(7–4), 6–4
2023POL Iga Świątek (1/1)USA Jessica Pegula6–1, 6–0
2024USA Coco Gauff (1/1)CHN Zheng Qinwen3–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–2)
2025KAZ Elena Rybakina (1/1)Aryna Sabalenka6–3, 7–6(7–0)

Doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1972No Doubles Played
1973USA Rosemary Casals (1/2)
AUS Margaret Court (1/2)FRA Françoise Dürr
NED Betty Stöve6–2, 6–4
1974USA Rosemary Casals (2/2)
USA Billie Jean King (1/4)FRA Françoise Dürr
NED Betty Stöve6–1, 6–7(2–7), 7–5
1975AUS Margaret Court (2/2)
GBR Virginia Wade (1/1)USA Rosemary Casals
USA Billie Jean King6–7(2–7), 7–6(7–2), 6–2
1976USA Billie Jean King (2/4)
NED Betty Stöve (1/3)USA Mona Guerrant
USA Ann Kiyomura6–3, 6–2
1977USA Martina Navratilova (1/13)
NED Betty Stöve (2/3)FRA Françoise Dürr
GBR Virginia Wade7–5, 6–3
1978USA Billie Jean King (3/4)
USA Martina Navratilova (2/13)FRA Françoise Dürr
GBR Virginia Wade6–4, 6–4
1979FRA Françoise Dürr (1/1)
NED Betty Stöve (3/3)GBR Sue Barker
USA Ann Kiyomura7–6(7–1), 7–6(7–3)
1980USA Billie Jean King (4/4)
USA Martina Navratilova (3/13)USA Rosemary Casals
AUS Wendy Turnbull6–3, 4–6, 6–3
1981USA Martina Navratilova (4/13)
USA Pam Shriver (1/10)USA Barbara Potter
USA Sharon Walsh6–0, 7–6(8–6)
1982USA Martina Navratilova (5/13)
USA Pam Shriver (2/10)USA Kathy Jordan
USA Anne Smith6–4, 6–3
1983USA Martina Navratilova (6/13)
USA Pam Shriver (3/10)FRG Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
FRG Eva Pfaff7–5, 6–2
1984USA Martina Navratilova (7/13)
USA Pam Shriver (4/10)GBR Jo Durie
USA Ann Kiyomura6–3, 6–1
1985USA Martina Navratilova (8/13)
USA Pam Shriver (5/10)FRG Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
TCH Helena Suková6–7(4–7), 6–4, 7–6(7–5)
[1986
(Mar.)](1986-virginia-slims-championships-march-doubles)TCH Hana Mandlíková (1/1)
AUS Wendy Turnbull (1/1)FRG Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
TCH Helena Suková6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3
[1986
(Nov.)](1986-virginia-slims-championships-november-doubles)USA Martina Navratilova (9/13)
USA Pam Shriver (6/10)FRG Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
TCH Helena Suková7–6(7–1), 6–3
1987USA Martina Navratilova (10/13)
USA Pam Shriver (7/10)FRG Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
TCH Helena Suková6–1, 6–1
1988USA Martina Navratilova (11/13)
USA Pam Shriver (8/10)URS Larisa Savchenko
URS Natalia Zvereva6–3, 6–4
1989USA Martina Navratilova (12/13)
USA Pam Shriver (9/10)URS Larisa Savchenko
URS Natalia Zvereva6–3, 6–2
1990USA Kathy Jordan (1/1)
AUS Elizabeth Smylie (1/1)ARG Mercedes Paz
ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario7–6(7–4), 6–4
1991USA Martina Navratilova (13/13)
USA Pam Shriver (10/10)USA Gigi Fernández
TCH Jana Novotná4–6, 7–5, 6–4
1992ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (1/2)
TCH Helena Suková (1/1)TCH Jana Novotná
LAT Larisa Savchenko Neiland7–6(7–4), 6–1
1993USA Gigi Fernández (1/2)
BLR Natalia Zvereva (1/3)CZE Jana Novotná
LAT Larisa Neiland6–3, 7–5
1994USA Gigi Fernández (2/2)
BLR Natasha Zvereva (2/3)CZE Jana Novotná
ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario6–3, 6–7(4–7), 6–3
1995CZE Jana Novotná (1/2)
ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (2/2)USA Gigi Fernández
BLR Natasha Zvereva6–2, 6–1
1996USA Lindsay Davenport (1/3)
USA Mary Joe Fernández (1/1)CZE Jana Novotná
ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario6–3, 6–2
1997USA Lindsay Davenport (2/3)
CZE Jana Novotná (2/2)FRA Alexandra Fusai
FRA Nathalie Tauziat6–7(5–7), 6–3, 6–2
1998USA Lindsay Davenport (3/3)
BLR Natasha Zvereva (3/3)FRA Alexandra Fusai
FRA Nathalie Tauziat6–7(6–8), 7–5, 6–3
1999SUI Martina Hingis (1/3)
RUS Anna Kournikova (1/2)ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
LAT Larisa Neiland6–4, 6–4
2000SUI Martina Hingis (2/3)
RUS Anna Kournikova (2/2)USA Nicole Arendt
NED Manon Bollegraf6–2, 6–3
2001USA Lisa Raymond (1/4)
AUS Rennae Stubbs (1/1)ZIM Cara Black
RUS Elena Likhovtseva7–5, 3–6, 6–3
2002RUS Elena Dementieva (1/1)
SVK Janette Husárová (1/1)ZIM Cara Black
RUS Elena Likhovtseva4–6, 6–4, 6–3
2003ESP Virginia Ruano Pascual (1/1)
ARG Paola Suárez (1/1)BEL Kim Clijsters
JPN Ai Sugiyama6–4, 3–6, 6–3
2004RUS Nadia Petrova (1/2)
USA Meghann Shaughnessy (1/1)ZIM Cara Black
AUS Rennae Stubbs7–5, 6–2
2005USA Lisa Raymond (2/4)
AUS Samantha Stosur (1/2)ZIM Cara Black
AUS Rennae Stubbs6–7(5–7), 7–5, 6–4
2006USA Lisa Raymond (3/4)
AUS Samantha Stosur (2/2)ZIM Cara Black
AUS Rennae Stubbs3–6, 6–3, 6–3
2007ZIM Cara Black (1/3)
USA Liezel Huber (1/3)SLO Katarina Srebotnik
JPN Ai Sugiyama5–7, 6–3, [10–8]
2008ZIM Cara Black (2/3)
USA Liezel Huber (2/3)CZE Květa Peschke
AUS Rennae Stubbs6–1, 7–5
2009ESP Nuria Llagostera Vives (1/1)
ESP María José Martínez Sánchez (1/1)ZIM Cara Black
USA Liezel Huber7–6(7–0), 5–7, [10–7]
2010ARG Gisela Dulko (1/1)
ITA Flavia Pennetta (1/1)CZE Květa Peschke
SLO Katarina Srebotnik7–5, 6–4
2011USA Liezel Huber (3/3)
USA Lisa Raymond (4/4)CZE Květa Peschke
SLO Katarina Srebotnik6–4, 6–4
2012RUS Maria Kirilenko (1/1)
RUS Nadia Petrova (2/2)CZE Andrea Hlaváčková
CZE Lucie Hradecká6–1, 6–4
2013TPE Hsieh Su-wei (1/1)
CHN Peng Shuai (1/1)RUS Ekaterina Makarova
RUS Elena Vesnina6–4, 7–5
2014ZIM Cara Black (3/3)
IND Sania Mirza (1/2)TPE Hsieh Su-wei
CHN Peng Shuai6–1, 6–0
2015SUI Martina Hingis (3/3)
IND Sania Mirza (2/2)ESP Garbiñe Muguruza
ESP Carla Suárez Navarro6–0, 6–3
2016RUS Ekaterina Makarova (1/1)
RUS Elena Vesnina (1/1)USA Bethanie Mattek-Sands
CZE Lucie Šafářová7–6(7–5), 6–3
2017HUN Tímea Babos (1/3)
CZE Andrea Hlaváčková (1/1)NED Kiki Bertens
SWE Johanna Larsson4–6, 6–4, [10–5]
2018HUN Tímea Babos (2/3)
FRA Kristina Mladenovic (1/2)CZE Barbora Krejčíková
CZE Kateřina Siniaková6–4, 7–5
2019HUN Tímea Babos (3/3)
FRA Kristina Mladenovic (2/2)TPE Hsieh Su-wei
CZE Barbora Strýcová6–1, 6–3
2020No competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021CZE Barbora Krejčíková (1/1)
CZE Kateřina Siniaková (1/1)TPE Hsieh Su-wei
BEL Elise Mertens6–3, 6–4
2022Veronika Kudermetova (1/2)
BEL Elise Mertens (1/2)CZE Barbora Krejčíková
CZE Kateřina Siniaková6–2, 4–6, [11–9]
2023GER Laura Siegemund (1/1)
Vera Zvonareva (1/1)USA Nicole Melichar-Martinez
AUS Ellen Perez6–4, 6–4
2024CAN Gabriela Dabrowski (1/1)
NZL Erin Routliffe (1/1)CZE Kateřina Siniaková
USA Taylor Townsend7–5, 6–3
2025Veronika Kudermetova (2/2)
BEL Elise Mertens (2/2)HUN Tímea Babos
BRA Luisa Stefani7–6(7–4), 6–1

List of champions

TitlesPlayerYears854321
USA Martina Navratilova1978–79, 81, 83–86(Nov.)
GER Steffi Graf1987, 89, 93, 95–96
USA Serena Williams2001, 09, 12–14
USA Chris Evert1972–73, 75, 77
YUG/FRY Monica Seles1990–92
BEL Kim Clijsters2002–03, 10
AUS Evonne Goolagong Cawley1974, 76
ARG Gabriela Sabatini1988, 94
SUI Martina Hingis1998, 2000
BEL Justine Henin2006–07
USA Tracy Austin1980
FRG Sylvia Hanika1982
CZE Jana Novotná1997
USA Lindsay Davenport1999
RUS Maria Sharapova2004
FRA Amélie Mauresmo2005
USA Venus Williams2008
CZE Petra Kvitová2011
POL Agnieszka Radwańska2015
SVK Dominika Cibulková2016
DEN Caroline Wozniacki2017
UKR Elina Svitolina2018
AUS Ashleigh Barty2019
ESP Garbiñe Muguruza2021
FRA Caroline Garcia2022
POL Iga Świątek2023
USA Coco Gauff2024
KAZ Elena Rybakina2025

Doubles

TitlesPlayerYears13104321
USA Martina Navratilova1977–78, 80–86(Nov.), 87–89, 91
USA Pam Shriver1981–86(Nov.), 87–89, 91
USA Billie Jean King1974, 76, 78, 80
USA Lisa Raymond2001, 05–06, 11
NED Betty Stöve1976–77, 79
BLR/BLR Natasha Zvereva1993–94, 98
USA Lindsay Davenport1996–98
USA Liezel Huber2007–08, 11
ZIM Cara Black2007–08, 14
SUI Martina Hingis1999–00, 2015
HUN Tímea Babos2017–19
USA Rosemary Casals1973–74
AUS Margaret Court1973, 75
USA Gigi Fernández1993–94
ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario1992, 95
CZE Jana Novotná1995, 97
RUS Anna Kournikova1999–00
AUS Samantha Stosur2005–06
RUS Nadia Petrova2004, 12
IND Sania Mirza2014–15
FRA Kristina Mladenovic2018–19
{{plainlist2022, 25
GBR Virginia Wade1975
FRA Françoise Dürr1979
{{plainlist1986(Mar.)
{{plainlist1990
TCH Helena Suková1992
USA Mary Joe Fernández1996
AUS Rennae Stubbs2001
{{plainlist2002
{{plainlist2003
USA Meghann Shaughnessy2004
{{plainlist2009
{{plainlist2010
RUS Maria Kirilenko2012
{{plainlist2013
{{plainlist2016
CZE Andrea Hlaváčková2017
{{plainlist2021
{{plainlist2023
{{plainlist2024

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Records and statistics

Note: Active players indicated in bold.

Singles

#Titles
8USA Martina Navratilova
5GER Steffi Graf
USA Serena Williams
4USA Chris Evert
3YUG/FRY Monica Seles
BEL Kim Clijsters
#Finals
14TCH/USA Martina Navratilova
8USA Chris Evert
7USA Serena Williams
6GER Steffi Graf
4ARG Gabriela Sabatini
YUG/FRY/USA Monica Seles
SWI Martina Hingis
USA Lindsay Davenport
#Matches won
60TCH/USA Martina Navratilova
34USA Chris Evert
31GER Steffi Graf
29USA Serena Williams
21ARG Gabriela Sabatini
RUS Maria Sharapova
#Editions played
21TCH/USA Martina Navratilova
13USA Chris Evert
GER Steffi Graf
ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
12USA Zina Garrison
ESP Conchita Martínez

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Youngest & oldest champions

SinglesYoungestOldestDoublesYoungestOldest
YUG Monica Seles1990
USA Serena Williams2014
RUS Anna Kournikova1999
Vera Zvonareva2023

Longest and shortest matches

Singles

;Best-of-five-sets system:

;Best-of-three-sets system:

date=24 October 2017title=Venus outlasts Ostapenko in marathon Singapore epicurl=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/1415569/venus-outlasts-ostapenko-in-marathon-singapore-epicaccess-date=2021-11-11website=www.wtatennis.com}}2012]] round robin, 3 hours and 29 minutesPOL}} Agnieszka RadwańskaITA}} Sara Erranip1 s1 = 66p2 s1 = 78p1 s2 = 7p2 s2 = 5p1 s3 = 6p2 s3 = 4header text = Longest match by games won2017]] round robin, 37 gamesUSA}} Venus WilliamsLAT}} Jeļena Ostapenkop1 s1 = 7p2 s1 = 5p1 s2 = 63p2 s2 = 77p1 s3 = 7p2 s3 = 5header text = Shortest match by games won2007]] round robin, 12 gamesBEL}} Justine HeninFRA}} Marion Bartolip1 s1 = 6p2 s1 = 0p1 s2 = 6p2 s2 = 0

Doubles

header text = Longest match by games won1985]] final, 36 gamesUSA}} Martina Navratilova
USA Pam ShriverFRG}} Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
TCH Helena Sukováp1 s1 = 64p2 s1 = 77p1 s2 = 6p2 s2 = 4p1 s3 = 77p2 s3 = 65header text = Shortest match by games won2014]] final, 13 gamesZIM}} Cara Black
IND Sania MirzaTPE}} Hsieh Su-wei
CHN Peng Shuaip1 s1 = 6p2 s1 = 1p1 s2 = 6p2 s2 = 0

Year-end championships double & triple

Winning three or two out of the four Year-ending championships since its inception in 1972: WTA Championships/Finals, Series-Ending Championships, Grand Slam Cup, WTA Tournament of Champions/Elite Trophy indicated in bold.

Double crown

Winning the Year-end championships in both singles and doubles in the same year.

No.PlayerYears won
5USA Martina Navratilova1978, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986(Nov)
1CZE Jana Novotná1997
SUI Martina Hingis2000

Year-end championships triple

No.PlayerWTA Championships/FinalsGrand Slam CupWTA Elite Trophy1
USA Venus Williams200819982015

WTA Championships – Series-Ending Championships Double

No.PlayerWTA Championships/FinalsSeries-Ending Championships123
USA Chris Evert19721977
USA Martina Navratilova19781979
USA Tracy Austin19801980

WTA Championships – Grand Slam Cup Double

No.PlayerWTA Championships/FinalsGrand Slam Cup12
USA Serena Williams20011999
USA Venus Williams20081998

WTA Championships – WTA Elite Trophy Double

No.PlayerWTA Championships/FinalsWTA Elite Trophy123
USA Venus Williams20082015
CZE Petra Kvitová20112016
AUS Ashleigh Barty20192018

Grand Slam Cup – WTA Elite Trophy Double

No.PlayerGrand Slam CupWTA Elite Trophy1
USA Venus Williams19982015

Titles by country

Singles

Doubles

Note: Titles, won by a team of players from same country, count as one title, not two. ;Note

Sponsors

The event has a more than 40-year history of corporate sponsorship with the finals named after the sponsoring company.

YearsSponsorNameRefs
1972–1978Virginia SlimsVirginia Slims Championships
1979–1982AvonAvon Championships
1983–1994Virginia SlimsVirginia Slims Championships
1995NoneWTA Tour Championships
1996–2000ChaseChase Championships
2001SanexSanex Championships
2002The Home DepotHome Depot Championships
2003Bank of AmericaBank of America WTA Tour Championships
2004NoneWTA Tour Championships
2005–2010Sony EricssonSony Ericsson Championships
2011–2013BNP Paribas and Türk Ekonomi BankasıTEB–BNP Paribas WTA Championships Istanbul
2014–2018BNP Paribas and SC GlobalBNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global
2019ShiseidoShiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen
2021AkronAkron WTA Finals Guadalajara
2022HologicHologic WTA Finals Fort Worth
2023GNP SegurosGNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun

References

References

  1. "WTA Tour 2021 Media Guide".
  2. (28 October 2025). "WTA Finals 2025: Schedule, groups, prize money and everything you need to know".
  3. (1 March 2022). "Joint Statement by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis".
  4. (May 27, 2014). "WTA re-launches year-end Championships as WTA Finals".
  5. "TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup". WTA Tour.
  6. (2 July 2010). "2011 Calendar Announced". WTA Tour.
  7. (29 January 2013). "WTA narrows 2014 Championships host field to three finalists". WTA.
  8. "Three cities still in running to host WTA Championships". WTA.
  9. (8 May 2013). "WTA picks Singapore to host its tennis Championships from 2014". BBC News.
  10. "2021 SHISEIDO WTA FINALS SHENZHEN".
  11. "Shenzhen, China to host WTA Finals starting in 2019".
  12. (2021-09-13). "2021 WTA Finals moved from Shenzhen to Guadalajara". Reuters.
  13. "Where, Oh Where, Are the WTA Finals?".
  14. "Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the next three editions of the WTA Finals from 2024-2026. The 2024 season-ending Finals will take place November 2–9, featuring the top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the Race to the #WTAFinals".
  15. Scott, Laura. (2024-11-07). "WTA Finals 2024: How is Saudi Arabia tournament unfolding - and what do players think?".
  16. Carayol, Tumaini. (2024-11-01). "WTA Finals in Riyadh: women's tennis has become Saudi sportswashing tool". The Guardian.
  17. (2024-11-01). "The Controversy Over Playing the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia".
  18. (18 October 2013). "40 Love History: Five Set Finals". [[Women's Tennis Association]] (WTA).
  19. (3 September 2012). "It's the Way It's (Almost) Always Been". New York Times.
  20. "WTA confirms 2024 calendar with increase in prize money for players".
  21. "WTA Race Singles Ranking Page".
  22. (2025-10-28). "WTA Finals 2025: Schedule, groups, prize money and everything you need to know".
  23. (30 June 2014). "BILLIE JEAN KING NAMED OFFICIAL AMBASSADOR OF WTA FINALS IN SINGAPORE".
  24. "Makers of Billie Jean King Trophy {{!}} WTA Finals {{!}} Tennis {{!}} Thomas Lyte - Thomas Lyte".
  25. Merrell, Chloe. (7 November 2021). "WTA Tour Finals 2021 preview: everything you need to know".
  26. (4 November 2021). "Evert, Navratilova to serve as WTA Finals legend ambassadors".
  27. "About WTA Finals".
  28. (9 November 2021). "WTA Finals 2021: By the Numbers - Tennis Now".
  29. (18 November 2020). "November 18, 1990: Seles and Sabatini go five".
  30. (29 October 2016). "Return Winners: A look back at the 1990 WTA Finals".
  31. (24 October 2017). "Venus outlasts Ostapenko in marathon Singapore epic".
  32. (11 March 2014). "Tennis-BNP Paribas extends WTA Championship sponsorship". Reuters.
  33. (23 July 2019). "Shiseido signs on as title sponsor of WTA Finals Shenzhen". wtatennis.com.
  34. (21 September 2021). "WTA Finals: Making Guadalajara Before the World". smallcapnews.co.uk.
  35. (3 March 2022). "Hologic partners with WTA Tour in landmark title sponsorship". wtatennis.com.
  36. (15 October 2023). "GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun 2023". boletomovil.com.
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