WTA
2025 WTA Finals Predictions: Can Swiatek Reclaim Her Crown?
The season-ending WTA Finals return this November, bringing together the top eight players in women’s tennis for one last battle to decide who ends 2025 as the queen of the court.
With the race complete and the field set, here’s a closer look at the players vying for the title and what’s at stake in one of tennis’ most prestigious showcases.
The Venue
This year’s WTA Finals return to Riyadh, marking the event’s comeback to Saudi Arabia since last year. Played on indoor hard courts, the conditions tend to favour aggressive baseliners with strong serves and the ability to finish points quickly, which is something to keep in mind when looking at the field.
The Finals follow the traditional round-robin format, with two groups of four players each. The top two from each group progress to the semi-finals, and from there it’s a straight knockout to the trophy.
The Field
Here’s how the eight-player lineup looks heading into Riyadh:
- Aryna Sabalenka: US Open champion, four titles, fifth Finals.
- Iga Swiatek: Wimbledon champion, strong multi-surface season, former champ.
- Coco Gauff: French Open champ, Wuhan champ and defending champion.
- Amanda Anisimova: Doha WTA 1000, two major finals, Finals debut.
- Jessica Pegula: Won 500-level tournaments (Charleston and Bad Homburg).
- Elena Rybakina: Strasbourg and the Ningbo Open titles.
- Jasmine Paolini: Italian Open champ. Qualified in doubles too.
- Madison Keys: Australian Open champ, second appearance in Finals.
Iga’s Redemption Arc
Last year, Iga Swiatek fell short in Riyadh, bowing out in the group stage. This time, the six-time major champion returns with more clarity and consistency, having claimed her fourth Roland Garros title of the decade. She’s adapted her hard-court game significantly in 2025, flattening out her forehand and playing more inside the baseline. Indoors, with no wind or sun to contend with, she’ll be a serious threat.
Advantage Coco
While the Finals aren’t technically in the United States, the buzz around Coco Gauff hasn’t dimmed all season. After lifting her second Grand Slam at the French Open and continuing to impress on the WTA 1000 stage, Gauff arrives as one of the in-form players on tour. Her serve has become more reliable, her forehand more confident, and her mindset calmer.
On another note, Four Americans (Gauff, Anisimova, Keys, Pegula) are in the field, the most since six qualified in 2002 (Serena and Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles, Chanda Rubin, and Lindsey Davenport).
Sabalenka’s Statement Year
After capturing the Australian Open for a second consecutive year in 2024 and backing it up with consistent results, Aryna Sabalenka comes in with a powerful case to leave Riyadh as champion. She’s still one of the most intimidating players on tour and if the serve clicks and the errors stay low, she can beat anyone on any surface.
Her semifinal run in last year’s WTA Finals ended in heartbreak. This time, she’ll be gunning for the crown.
Prediction
This year’s Finals feel wide open, given the level of talent and form on display. Swiatek and Gauff look like the form players, but Sabalenka’s power and revenge narrative make her a dangerous pick.
Prediction: Swiatek defeats Gauff in the final, capping a season of dominance and adding a WTF Finals title to her 2025 Wimbledon and Australian Open wins.
