WTA Finals Guide

Similar to the ATP Finals that are held for the men’s game, the WTA Finals is an annual event held towards the end of the year (usually in November) that showcases the top singles and doubles players in women’s tennis.

The WTA Finals is the last big WTA tournament held each year and marks the end of the WTA season.

Every year a “Race to the WTA Finals” is run by the WTA where players earn points based on their performances throughout the year with the top eight singles players and eight Doubles teams qualifying for the Finals in November.

WTA Finals

2022 WTA Finals

Location:Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Court Surface:Indoor Hard Courts
Draw Size:8 Singles and 8 Doubles
Prize Money:$5,000,000

Dates

The 2022 tournament took place in Fort Worth, Texas from the 31st of October to the 7th of November 2022.

The 2022 event was played in the same week as the Dow Tennis Classic in Michigan, USA, the Charlottesville Challenger in Virginia, and the Rolex Paris Masters in France.

Tickets

Single and multi session tickets for the 2022 Tournament were sold through Ticketmaster.com.

Players

A total of 8 singles players and 16 doubles players (8 teams) participated in the 2022 finals.

Below is a list of players who have qualified for the 2022 tournament:

Singles

  1. Iga Swiatek
  2. Ons Jabeur
  3. Jessica Pegula
  4. Coco Gauff
  5. Caroline Garcia
  6. Aryna Sabalenka
  7. Daria Kasatkina
  8. Maria Sakkari

Doubles

  1. Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova
  2. Gabriela Dabrowski and Giuliana Olmos
  3. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula
  4. Yang Zhaoxuan and Xu Yifan
  5. Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens
  6. Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jeļena Ostapenko
  7. Anna Danilina and Beatriz Haddad Maia
  8. Desirae Krawczyk and Demi Schuurs

Groups

Once all the players were confirmed for the 2022 tournament, they were split into two groups of four with a round-robin (RR) format being used to decide who qualified for the semifinals.

Singles

Tracy Austin Group
  • Iga Swiatek
  • Coco Gauff
  • Caroline Garcia
  • Daria Kasatkina
Nancy Richey Group
  • Maria Sakkari
  • Aryna Sabalenka
  • Ons Jabeur
  • Jessica Pegula

Doubles

Rosie Casals Group
  • Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova
  • Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula
  • Yang Zhaoxuan and Xu Yifan
  • Desirae Krawczyk and Demi Schuurs
Pam Shriver Group
  • Gabriela Dabrowski and Giuliana Olmos
  • Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens
  • Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jeļena Ostapenko
  • Anna Danilina and Beatriz Haddad Maia

Schedule

Below was the schedule for the 2022 finals in Forth Worth, Texas with the round-robin matches being played from the 31st of October to the 5th of November, the semifinals on the 6th of November, and the finals on the 7th of November.

DateSessionStart TimeMatchesRound
Monday, 31 October 2022Day15:00Doubles followed by SinglesRR
Monday, 31 October 2022Night19:00Singles followed by DoublesRR
Tuesday, 1 November 2022Day15:00Doubles followed by SinglesRR
Tuesday, 1 November 2022Night19:00Singles followed by DoublesRR
Wednesday, 2 November 2022Day 15:00Doubles followed by SinglesRR
Wednesday, 2 November 2022Night19:00Singles followed by DoublesRR
Thursday, 3 November 2022Day 15:00Doubles followed by SinglesRR
Thursday, 3 November 2022Night19:00Singles followed by DoublesRR
Friday, 4 November 2022Day 13:30Doubles followed by SinglesRR
Friday, 4 November 2022Night19:00Singles followed by DoublesRR
Saturday, 5 November 2022Day 13:30Doubles followed by SinglesRR
Saturday, 5 November 2022NightNB 19:00Singles followed by DoublesRR
Sunday, 6 November 2022Day 13:30Doubles followed by SinglesSemifinals
Sunday, 6 November 2022Night19:00Doubles followed by SinglesSemifinals
Monday, 7 November 2022Evening17:30Doubles Final followed by the Singles Final (not before 20:00)Finals

Prize Money

The total financial commitment (including prize money) for the 2022 tournament was $5,000,000.

How the prize money for 2022 was split is detailed below.

2022 Participation Fee:

Singles players received a $110,000 Participation Fee, while doubles players received a Participation Fee of $50,000.

2022 Round-robin Matches:

Singles Players won $110,000 per round-robin match they won while doubles players won $20,000 per team for each round-robin match they won.

2022 Semifinal Matches:

Losing Singles semifinalists won $30,000 in addition to the prize money they had already won from the group stage.

Losing Doubles semifinalists won $5,000 in addition to the prize money they had already won from the group stage.

2022 WTA Finals:

Losing Singles finalists won $420,000 in addition to the prize money they had already won from the round-robin stage while losing Doubles finalists won an extra $80,000.

The Singles final winner won $820,000 in addition to the prize money they had already won from the round-robin stage while the winning Doubles team won an extra $170,000.

Minimum and Maximum Prize Money:

The minimum amount of prize money a singles player could win was $110,000 if they lost all three of their matches while the minimum for a doubles team was $50,000.

The maximum amount of prize money a singles player could win was $1,260,000 ($110,000 + ($110,000 x 3) + $820,000) if they won all three of their round-robin matches on their way to lifting the trophy.

The maximum amount of prize money a doubles team could win was $280,000 ($50,000 + ($20,000 x 3) + $170,000) if they won all three of their round-robin matches on their way to lifting the doubles trophy.

The winner of the singles competition in 2022 (Caroline Garcia) won $710,000 as she lost one of her group matches.

The winner of the doubles competition in 2022 (Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens) won $280,000 as they won all three of their group matches.

Past WTA Finals Winners (Singles)

Caroline Garcia is the current WTA finals singles champion after beating Aryna Sabalenka 7-6, 6-4 in the 2022 singles final.

YearWinnerRunner UpScore in Final
2022Caroline GarciaAryna Sabalenka7-6, 6-4
2021Garbine MuguruzaAnett Kontaveit6–3, 7–5
2020N/A*N/A*N/A*
2019Ashleigh BartyElina Svitolina6–4, 6–3
2018Ukraine Elina SvitolinaSloane Stephens3–6, 6–2, 6–2
2017Caroline WozniackiVenus Williams6–4, 6–4
2016Dominika CibulkováAngelique Kerber6–3, 6–4
2015Agnieszka RadwańskaPetra Kvitová6–2, 4–6, 6–3
2014Serena WilliamsSimona Halep6–3, 6–0
2013Serena WilliamsChina Li Na2–6, 6–3, 6–0
2012Serena WilliamsMaria Sharapova6–4, 6–3
2011Petra KvitováVictoria Azarenka7–5, 4–6, 6–3
2010Kim ClijstersCaroline Wozniacki6–3, 5–7, 6–3
2009Serena WilliamsVenus Williams6–2, 7–6
2008Venus WilliamsVera Zvonareva6–7, 6–0, 6–2
2007Justine HeninMaria Sharapova5–7, 7–5, 6–3
2006Justine HeninAmélie Mauresmo6–4, 6–3
2005Amélie MauresmoMary Pierce5–7, 7–6, 6–4
2004Maria SharapovaSerena Williams4–6, 6–2, 6–4
2003Kim ClijstersAmélie Mauresmo6–2, 6–0
2002Kim ClijstersSerena Williams7–5, 6–3
2001Serena WilliamsLindsay DavenportWalkover
2000Martina HingisMonica Seles6–7, 6–4, 6–4
1999Lindsay DavenportMartina Hingis6–4, 6–2
1998Martina HingisLindsay Davenport7–5, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2
1997Jana NovotnáMary Pierce7–6, 6–2, 6–3
1996Steffi GrafMartina Hingis6–3, 4–6, 6–0, 4–6, 6–0
1995Steffi GrafAnke Huber6–1, 2–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
1994Gabriela SabatiniLindsay Davenport6–3, 6–2, 6–4
1993Steffi GrafArantxa Sánchez Vicario6–1, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1
1992Monica SelesMartina Navratilova7–5, 6–3, 6–1
1991Monica SelesMartina Navratilova6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 6–0
1990Monica SelesGabriela Sabatini6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2
1989Steffi GrafMartina Navratilova6–4, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2
1988Gabriela SabatiniPam Shriver7–5, 6–2, 6–2
1987Steffi GrafGabriela Sabatini4–6, 6–4, 6–0, 6–4
1986 (Nov)Martina NavratilovaSteffi Graf7–6, 6–3, 6–2
1986 (Mar)Martina NavratilovaHana Mandlíková6–2, 6–0, 3–6, 6–1
1985Martina NavratilovaHelena Suková6–3, 7–5, 6–4
1984Martina NavratilovaChris Evert6–3, 7–5, 6–1
1983Martina NavratilovaChris Evert6–2, 6–0
1982Sylvia HanikaMartina Navratilova1–6, 6–3, 6–4
1981Martina NavratilovaAndrea Jaeger6–3, 7–6
1980Tracy AustinMartina Navratilova6–2, 2–6, 6–2
1979Martina NavratilovaTracy Austin6–3, 3–6, 6–2
1978Martina NavratilovaEvonne Goolagong Cawley7–6, 6–4
1977Chris EvertSue Barker2–6, 6–1, 6–1
1976Evonne Goolagong CawleyChris Evert6–3, 5–7, 6–3
1975Chris EvertMartina Navratilova6–4, 6–2
1974Evonne Goolagong CawleyChris Evert6–3, 6–4
1973Chris EvertNancy Richey Gunter6–3, 6–3
1972Chris EvertKerry Melville7–5, 6–4

*No competition were held in 2020.

Most WTA Finals Titles (Singles)

Martina Navratilova currently holds the record for most singles titles with a total of eight to her name.

WTA PlayerSingles Titles
Martina Navratilova8
Serena Williams5
Steffi Graf5
Chris Evert4
Kim Clijsters3
Monica Seles3
Evonne Goolagong Cawley2
Gabriela Sabatini2
Justine Henin2
Martina Hingis2
Agnieszka Radwańska1
Amélie Mauresmo1
Ashleigh Barty1
Caroline Wozniacki1
Dominika Cibulková1
Garbiñe Muguruza1
Jana Novotná1
Lindsay Davenport1
Maria Sharapova1
Petra Kvitová1
Sylvia Hanika1
Tracy Austin1
Ukraine Elina Svitolina1
Venus Williams1

FAQ

Who won the WTA Finals in 2022?

The WTA Singles Final was won by Caroline Garcia in 2022 after she beat Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets 7-6, 6-4.

In the Doubles final, Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens beat Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova 6–2, 4–6, 11–9.

How many points are awarded to the winners?

A player or team who wins all their round-robin matches, their semifinal match, and the final can earn a max of 1,500 points.