WTA Finals 2023: Swiatek, Sabalenka play for No.1

Who has the momentum heading to the Gulf of Mexico? Gauff is riding high off of her chilling US Open victory, and continued that success into the Asian swing, tallying a 16-match win streak (starting in August) before being stopped in the Beijing semifinals by Swiatek.

Each of Swiatek (Beijing), Jabeur (Ningbo) and Pegula (Seoul) have tournament victories in the last few weeks, while Rybakina handed Sabalenka her first official loss as the world No.1 since the 25-year-old took over the top ranking after the US Open. Rybakina beat Sabalenka in the Beijing quarters.

“I’m happy that after US Open I just got back to basics and just worked really hard tennis-wise,” Swiatek, who lost in the fourth round in New York (and subsequently gave up the world’s top spot), said after her Beijing win, her 16th career title. “I am staying positive and focused on the future.” 

With points dropping off from last year’s WTA Finals, Swiatek does have the chance to re-claim the year-end No.1 ranking from Sabalenka, but will need a strong performance overall.

The field offers an array of styles: The power and aggressive play of Sabalenka and Rybakina; the all-court athleticism and defense-to-offense ability of Swiatek and Gauff; the tricky, angular nature of Jabeur, Vondrousova (the lone lefty) and Muchova; and the lethal consistency of Pegula.