<!–
–>
The WTA Finals suffered some embarrassingly low attendances in Fort Worth in Texas last year, but there are hopes of a more encouraging turn-out of fans in this year’s end-of-season showcase in Cancun.
The 2022 edition of the finale of the women’s tennis season was an embarrassment for the women’s game, with huge swathes of empty seats for an event that was moved to Texas at short notice.
The decision to stage this year’s WTA Finals in Cancun also came late, with organisers criticised for taking so long to find a venue for their showpiece tournament.
Yet it seems Mexican fans are more keen to watch the game’s leading female players, with many sections sold out, especially for the concluding matches in the tournament.
The sight of well-populated stands would be a major boost to the women’s game after a challenging year that has seen the disparity in prize money emerge as a major issue.
While female players collect the same pay cheques as their male tennis counterparts at the Grand Slam events, regular WTA Tour events do not offer the same amount of prize funds as the leading events in the men’s game.
That is due to less lucrative television and sponsorship agreements agreed by the WTA Tour, yet the cash on offer for the WTA Finals is eye-watering.
The total prize pool at the WTA Finals in Cancun is $9,000,000. Players are awarded a base amount of points/prize money for playing each match, plus additional points and prize money for victories. A player can win up to 1,500 points and $3,024,000 million by going undefeated at the WTA Finals to win the singles title.
Court ready. Players ready.
Let’s go, Cancun! 💪#WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/lXUu45K4Ow
— wta (@WTA) October 28, 2023
There is a $198,000 participation fee for each of the eight players taking part, plus $198,000 for each round-robin win.
If a player advances to the semifinals, she adds $54,000 to her prize pot. A semifinal win earns an additional $756,000. Winning the final will earn an additional $1,476,000.
There is a $90,000 participation fee in the doubles event, plus $36,000 for each round-robin win.
If a team advances to the semifinals, they will add an additional $9,000. A semifinal win earns an additional $144,000. Winning the final earns an additional $306,000.
The draw for the group stage of the 2023 WTA Finals has been revealed, with Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff among the stars competing in Cancun.
Swiatek and Jessica Pegula, who were placed in separate groups, both gave their reaction to the draw for the groups, with play set to begin on Sunday.
World No 1 Sabalenka has been placed in the Bacalar Group along with No 4 seed Elena Rybakina, No 5 seed Jessica Pegula and No 8 seed Maria Sakkari.
Swiatek and Gauff – the world No 2 and 3 respectively – are in the Chetumal Group with sixth seed Ons Jabeur and seventh seed Marketa Vondrousova.
Singles Field:
1. Aryna Sabalenka
2. Iga Swiatek
3. Coco Gauff
4. Elena Rybakina
5. Jessica Pegula
6. Ons Jabeur
7. Marketa Vondrousova
8. Maria Sakkari
Doubles Field:
1. Coco Gauff & Jessica Pegula
2. Storm Hunter & Elise Mertens
3. Shuko Aoyama & Ena Shibahara
4. Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova
5. Desirae Krawczyk & Demi Schuurs
6. Laura Siegemund & Vera Zvonareva
7. Gabriela Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe
8. Nicole Melichar-Martinez & Ellen Perez
<!–
–>