WTA Finals

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.{{Cite web |title=TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/posting/2014/1027/OP.pdf |publisher=WTA Tour |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801124814/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/posting/2014/1027/OP.pdf |archive-date=1 August 2014 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{Cite web |date=2 July 2010 |title=2011 Calendar Announced |url=http://www.wtatour.com/news/20100702/2011-calendar-announced_2256076_2083642 |access-date=4 December 2010 |publisher=WTA Tour}} 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.{{Cite web |date=29 January 2013 |title=WTA narrows 2014 Championships host field to three finalists |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Archive/PressReleases/2013/0129_WTA_Championships_Field_Narrowed.pdf |website=www.wtatennis.com |publisher=WTA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208083754/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Archive/PressReleases/2013/0129_WTA_Championships_Field_Narrowed.pdf |archive-date=8 December 2014 |url-status=dead }} Kazan and Mexico City were ruled out in early 2013{{Cite web |title=Three cities still in running to host WTA Championships |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3058045/title/three-cities-still-in-running-to-host-wta-championships |website=www.wtatennis.com |publisher=WTA}} before Singapore was announced in May 2013 as the new host city for five years.{{Cite news |date=8 May 2013 |title=WTA picks Singapore to host its tennis Championships from 2014 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22433512}}{{Cite web |title=2021 SHISEIDO WTA FINALS SHENZHEN |url=http://www.shiseidowtafinalsshenzhen.com/overview_prize_info |access-date=2021-11-11 |website=www.shiseidowtafinalsshenzhen.com}} In 2018, the WTA announced the host city from 2019 to 2028 would be Shenzhen, China,{{Cite news |title=Shenzhen, China to host WTA Finals starting in 2019 |language=en |url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/1444849/shenzhen-china-to-host-wta-finals-starting-in-2019 |access-date=2021-12-02}} however due to COVID-19 and later the disappearance of Peng Shuai, the tournament was cancelled in 2020 and had to find alternative hosting sites from 2020–2023.{{Cite news |date=2021-09-13 |title=2021 WTA Finals moved from Shenzhen to Guadalajara |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/2021-wta-finals-moved-shenzhen-guadalajara-2021-09-13/ |access-date=2021-12-02}}{{cite web |title=Where, Oh Where, Are the WTA Finals? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/28/sports/tennis/wta-finals-location-saudi.html |website=The New York Times}} In April 2024, the WTA announced that the host city from 2024–2026 would be Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.{{cite tweet|user=WTA|number=1775855865825722820|title=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}}

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.{{Cite web |date=18 October 2013 |title=40 Love History: Five Set Finals |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3501154/title/40-love-history-five-set-finals |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809121158/http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3501154/title/40-love-history-five-set-finals |archive-date=9 August 2016 |access-date=3 June 2016 |publisher=Women's Tennis Association (WTA) |df=dmy-all}} It was the first time since the 1901 U.S. National Championships that the best-of-five format was used in women's matches.{{Cite news |date=3 September 2012 |title=It's the Way It's (Almost) Always Been |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/09/03/womens-tennis-is-best-of-three-sets-enough-3/in-tennis-its-the-way-its-almost-always-been |access-date=26 September 2012}} 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.

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.{{Cite web |title=WTA confirms 2024 calendar with increase in prize money for players |url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/3856904/wta-confirms-2024-calendar-with-increase-in-prize-money-for-players |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Women's Tennis Association |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |title=WTA Race Singles Ranking Page |url=https://www.wtatennis.com/rankings/race-singles |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Women's Tennis Association |language=en}}

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The total prize money for the 2024 WTA Finals is US$15,250,000, an increase of 69.44% compared to the 2023 edition.{{Cite web |title=WTA Finals Prize Money 2024 |url=https://www.perfect-tennis.com/prize-money/wta-finals/ |access-date=2024-10-30 }} The tables below break down the prize money, participation fees are prorated on a per match basis.

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• An undefeated champion would earn the maximum 1,500 points and $3,885,000 in singles or $870,000 in doubles.
• Participation fees are prorated on a per match basis. Singles: 1 match = $225,000 2 matches = $275,000 and 3 matches = $335,000. Doubles: 1 match = $94,000 2 matches = $116,000 and 3 matches = $140,000.
• Alternate fees are also prorated on a per-match basis. Singles: 0 matches = $140,000, 1 match = $200,000, 2 matches = $250,000. Doubles: 0 matches= $60,000, 1 match = $84,000, 2 matches= $106,000

Since 2014, the singles and doubles winners of the tournament receive the Billie Jean King Trophy{{Cite web |date=30 June 2014 |title=BILLIE JEAN KING NAMED OFFICIAL AMBASSADOR OF WTA FINALS IN SINGAPORE |url=http://www.africansportsmonthly.com/1/post/2014/06/billie-jean-king-named-official-ambassador-of-wta-finals-in-singapore.html |access-date=2021-11-08 |website=AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Makers of Billie Jean King Trophy {{!}} WTA Finals {{!}} Tennis {{!}} Thomas Lyte - Thomas Lyte |url=https://www.thomaslyte.com/makers-of-the-billie-jean-king-trophy/p |access-date=2021-11-08 |website=www.thomaslyte.com}} and the Martina Navratilova trophy,{{Cite web |last=Merrell |first=Chloe |date=7 November 2021 |title=WTA Tour Finals 2021 preview: everything you need to know |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/wta-tour-finals-2021-preview |access-date=2021-11-08 |website=Olympics.com}}{{Cite web |date=4 November 2021 |title=Evert, Navratilova to serve as WTA Finals legend ambassadors |url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2336935/evert-navratilova-to-serve-as-wta-finals-legend-ambassadors |access-date=2021-11-08 |website=Women's Tennis Association |language=en}} respectively.

{{Legend|#0|text=‡|From 1984 to 1998, the final match in singles was held in a best-of-five-sets format.}}

|7–6^(7–4), 6–4

|-

|2023

|{{flagicon|POL}} Iga Świątek {{small|(1/1)}}

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jessica Pegula

|6–1, 6–0

|-

|2024

|{{flagicon|USA}} Coco Gauff {{small|(1/1)}}

|{{flagicon|CHN}} Zheng Qinwen

|3–6, 6–4, 7–6^(7–2)

|}

|{{flagicon|CZE}} Barbora Krejčíková
{{flagicon|CZE}} Kateřina Siniaková

|6–2, 4–6, [11–9]

|-

|2023

|{{flagicon|GER}} Laura Siegemund {{small|(1/1)}}
{{flagicon|}} Vera Zvonareva {{efn|name=RUS}} {{small|(1/1)}}

|{{flagicon|USA}} Nicole Melichar-Martinez
{{flagicon|AUS}} Ellen Perez

|6–4, 6–4

|-

|2024

|{{flagicon|CAN}} Gabriela Dabrowski {{small|(1/1)}}
{{flagicon|NZL}} Erin Routliffe {{small|(1/1)}}

|{{flagicon|CZE}} Kateřina Siniaková
{{flagicon|USA}} Taylor Townsend

|7–5, 6–3

|}

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• Current through 2024 WTA Finals (active players in bold).

{|

|-style="vertical-align:top"

|

{{col-break|gap=2em}}

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|2022

|-

|{{plainlist|

• {{flagicon|GER}} Laura Siegemund
• {{flagicon|}} Vera Zvonareva {{efn|name=RUS}}

}}

|2023

|-

|{{plainlist|

• {{flagicon|CAN}} Gabriela Dabrowski
• {{flagicon|NZL}} Erin Routliffe

}}

|2024

|}

|}

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{{efn|name=MarchEdition|In 1986 the WTA adopted a January–November playing season, thereby the event switched to being held at the end of each year. Consequently, there were two championships held in 1986. First edition was played in March.{{Cite web |title=About WTA Finals |url=https://wtafinalsgdl.com/en/about-wta-finals/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111150343/https://wtafinalsgdl.com/en/about-wta-finals/ |archive-date=2021-11-11 |website=Akron WTA Finals Guadalajara |language=en}}}}

{{efn|name=NovemberEdition|Second edition was played in November.}}

}}

Note: Active players indicated in bold.

{{col-break|gap=1em}}

{{col-break|gap=1em}}

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|{{age ym| 1984|9|7|2023|11|6}}

|2023

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;Best-of-five-sets system:

{{5-set tennis

| header text = Longest match by time played

| match desc = 1990 final, 3 hours and 47 minutes{{Cite web |date=18 November 2020 |title=November 18, 1990: Seles and Sabatini go five |url=https://www.tennismajors.com/our-features/on-this-day/november-18-1990-seles-and-sabatini-go-five-306295.html |access-date=2021-11-12 |website=www.tennismajors.com}}{{Cite web |date=29 October 2016 |title=Return Winners: A look back at the 1990 WTA Finals |url=https://www.tennis.com/baseline/articles/return-winners-a-look-back-at-the-1990-wta-finals |access-date=2021-11-12 |website=www.tennis.com}}

| player1 = {{flagicon|YUG}} Monica Seles

| player2 = {{flagicon|ARG}} Gabriela Sabatini

| p1 s1 = 6

| p2 s1 = 4

| p1 s2 = 5

| p2 s2 = 7

| p1 s3 = 3

| p2 s3 = 6

| p1 s4 = 6

| p2 s4 = 4

| p1 s5 = 6

| p2 s5 = 2

| ref =

| url =

}}

;Best-of-three-sets system:

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.

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

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{{tb2|21|width=420|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|USA}} {{small|(7 players)}}}}

}}

{{tb2|6|width=120|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagicon|GER}} West Germany / Germany {{small|(2 players)}}}}

}}

{{tb2|5|width=100|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|BEL}} {{small|(2 players)}}}}

}}

{{tb2|3|width=60|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|AUS}} {{small|(2 players)}}, {{flagcountry|YUG}} / {{flagcountry|FRY}} {{small|(1 player)}}}}

}}

{{tb2|2|width=40|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|ARG}} {{small|(1 player)}}, {{flagcountry|CZE}} {{small|(2 players)}}, {{flagcountry|FRA}} {{small|(2 players)}}, {{flagcountry|POL}} {{small|(2 players)}}, {{flagcountry|SUI}} {{small|(1 player)}}}}

}}

{{tb2|1|width=20|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|DEN}}, {{flagcountry|RUS}}, {{flagcountry|SVK}}, {{flagcountry|ESP}}, {{flagcountry|UKR}}}}

}}

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

{{tb2|29|width=580|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|USA}} {{small|(11 players)}}}}

}}

{{tb2|7|width=140|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|AUS}} {{small|(5 players)}}}}

}}

{{tb2|6|width=120|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagicon|CZE}} Czechoslovakia / Czech Republic {{small|(6 players)}}, {{flagcountry|RUS}} {{small|(6 players)}}{{efn|name=RUS|On 1 March 2022, the WTA announced that players from Russia will not be allowed to compete under the name or flag of Russia following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Veronika Kudermetova and Vera Zvonareva thus competed as neutral players since then and their first and only titles are not attributed to Russia in the "Titles by country" list.{{Cite web |date=1 March 2022 |title=Joint Statement by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis |url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2510418/joint-statement-by-the-international-governing-bodies-of-tennis |access-date=29 December 2022 |website=WTA Tour}}}}}}

}}

{{tb2|4|width=80|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|ESP}} {{small|(4 players)}}}}

}}

{{tb2|3|width=60|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|BLR}} {{small|(1 player)}}, {{flagcountry|FRA}} {{small|(2 players)}}, {{flagcountry|HUN}} {{small|(1 player)}}, {{flagcountry|NED}} {{small|(1 player)}}, {{flagcountry|SUI}} {{small|(1 player)}}, {{flagcountry|ZIM}} {{small|(1 player)}}}}

}}

{{tb2|2|width=40|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|ARG}} {{small|(2 players)}}, {{flagcountry|IND}} {{small|(1 player)}}}}

}}

{{tb2|1|width=20|text-size=100|text={{nowrap|{{flagcountry|BEL}}, {{flagcountry|CAN}}, {{flagcountry|CHN}}, {{flagcountry|TPE}}, {{flagcountry|GER}}, {{flagcountry|GBR}}, {{flagcountry|ITA}}, {{flagcountry|NZL}}, {{flagcountry|SVK}}}}

}}

;Note

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

• Toyota Championships
• WTA Finals appearances
• WTA Elite Trophy
• ATP Finals

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• {{Official website|http://www.wtachampionships.com/}}

{{WTA Finals}}

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Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1972

Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines

Category:1972 establishments in Florida