The WTA Finals Have Arrived - Issue #10

A rundown and in-depth look at all eight singles players in this years WTA Finals.

Written by Dove Sallow

The WTA season is officially coming to an end. But not before one final tournament. The year-end championships have arrived, and there’s a lot at stake. The WTA Finals offers more prize money than any grand slam, as well as more ranking points. These ranking points provide a cushion for qualified players in 2023. Here’s a rundown on each singles player, along with my predictions.

Iga Świątek

Iga Świątek needs no introduction. She is the reigning world #1 and 2022 has undoubtedly been her year. She accumulated a win streak of 37 match wins, which is the longest in the 21st century. She’s won 8 titles including two grand slams (Roland Garros & the US Open), with a win-loss record of 64-8. She has been merciless in her victories, winning 21 sets as bagels (6-0). The indoor courts of Fort Worth are considerably slow, so Iga will definitely be the favorite for the YEC (Year End Championships). She should be able to play a similar style to how she plays on clay. If she can do that, she will be in her element. Her defensive abilities allow her to track down pretty much any ball that’s hit her way. Her opponents will have a much tougher time trying to break down her forehand wing in these slower conditions. I expect Iga to perform very well here.

Ons Jabuer

Ons Jabuer has been the second best player in the world this year, and that’s a big accomplishment considering who the world #1 is. She’s made two grand slam finals (Wimbledon and the US Open), and it’s difficult to think that she didn’t walk away with at least one of those titles. Her game translates beautifully across all surfaces. She can truly hit any shot in the book, so it’s only a matter of time before she wins her first major. In her first slam final at Wimbledon, she played a great first set. But the match was taken out of her hands when Elena Rybakina started finding her first serve and hitting her targets. She was bullied around the court a little bit by Rybakina’s power. At the US Open against Świątek, I feel like Jabuer really had her chances and actually could’ve taken control of that final. She made some uncharacteristic errors and didn’t handle the occasion as well as she could have. I truly believe that out of all the players in this years YEC, Jabuer is the most talented. She is the most capable player out of the 8. If she plays at her highest level, she wins.

Jessica Pegula

Jessica Pegula has been quietly moving up the ladder for the last few years and is now one of the most consistent performers on the WTA tour. She has made 9 quarterfinals, 5 semifinals, and 2 finals in 2022. Both of her finals appearances were in WTA 1000 level events - the most recent one coming last week in Guadalajara, where she won the title (her first 1000 level title). She strikes the ball flat and goes for big targets. As I like to say, she plays “meat and potatoes” tennis. She doesn’t go for too much, but she’s constantly putting pressure on her opponents with flat power, moving them side to side. Her backhand is her greatest weapon and she’s also a pretty solid mover. She’s been working with Venus Williams’ former coach, David Witt, for the last few years and he’s made a huge difference in her game. Although Pegula lost her first match to Maria Sakkari earlier today, I expect her to get used to the conditions and perform well. Although she’d probably prefer a faster court, she’s great at adapting.

Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff has been America’s greatest hope since we first saw her defeat Venus Williams at Wimbledon as a 14 year old. It’s easy to forget that she’s only 18 - we’ve gotten so used to watching her play at such a high level these last four years. It’s mind blowing that she’s as good as she is and isn’t even fully developed. She’s at a career-high ranking of world #4 and has had a terrific season. The highlight of her year has got to be that grand slam final at Roland Garros. She lost to Świątek in straight sets, but it was still a milestone accomplishment and will serve as a building block for her when she reaches her next slam final. Gauff’s serve is massive and her backhand is among the best. Her movement will serve her well on these slow courts. Gauff can play a variety of ways, but I think she’s at her best when she chooses to be patient. If she hits with heavy spin on her forehand and uses her backhand to dictate, she can cause a lot of problems for the rest of the field in Fort Worth.

Maria Sakkari

Maria Sakkari has not had the best season, but she stuck with it and persevered. She made a final push to qualify for the YEC, beating out Veronika Kudermetova for the final spot in Guadalajara. Kudermetova arguably had the more consistent year, but Sakkari was able to come up with big results when it mattered most. Sakkari underperformed in the slams this year, so she will definitely be wanting to finish her year with a good showing at the YEC. She made the semifinals of this event last year in Guadalajara, where she lost to her good friend Anett Kontaveit. Sakkari has already won her first match in Fort Worth, defeating Pegula 7-6(6), 7-6(4). Sakkari is in great form, as she is coming off a final in Guadalajara. Oddly enough, the woman she lost to in the final of Guadalajara is the woman she beat in her first match here at the YEC. I think the slower conditions should help Sakkari. She hits with a lot of spin on her forehand and is among the fittest players on tour. She’s quick around the court and knows how to win long rallies.

Caroline Garcia

Caroline Garcia is no stranger to the top of the women’s game. She’s a former world #4 who’s sort of faded away these past few years. Her ranking fell out of the top 60 and she looked lost on court these past few years. She re-enlisted her father on her coaching team this year, and I believe it’s made the difference. Garcia won 3 titles this year (Bad Homburg, Warsaw, and Cincinnati). In Warsaw, Garcia defeated world #1 Iga Świątek. This will give her some confidence going into Fort Worth. Her title in Cincinnati was a WTA 1000 level event and really demonstrated just how far her game has come this year. She’s definitely back in full force. Garcia also made the semifinals of the US Open this year, where she lost to Jabuer in straight sets. Garcia’s game is deadly when she’s striking the ball well, but so much of her game is based on impeccable timing. She stands inside the baseline to return 124 mph first serves. When she’s timing the ball well, she’s unbeatable. When she’s a bit off, she’s not the same player. She hasn’t played well in her last few events, and I don’t know how her fast-paced game will respond to the slow courts of Fort Worth. When you factor in that she just split with her coach, Bernard Perret, this week could be an uphill battle for Garcia.

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka’s season has been efficient, but not anywhere near as dazzling as her 2021 season. She’s only won one match since her semifinal showing at the US Open, where she went down to Iga Świątek in three sets. She has not won a title in 2022, but Sabalenka remains as dangerous as ever. The power she possesses is unlike anyone’s we’ve seen. Her opponents know what they’re getting when they face her, but that doesn’t make it any less challenging. She takes the racket out of her opponent’s hands and doesn’t allow them to dictate their own fate. Sabalenka has already won her first match at the YEC, defeating Jabuer in a three set thriller earlier today. Her game is often up, and down, but if she can find her highest level in the biggest moments (like she did tonight against Jabuer), she could do well in Fort Worth.

Daria Kasatkina

Daria Kasatkina is a former top 10 player who lost her way, but it feels good to have her back at the top of the sport. She possesses great variety in her game as well as a high tennis IQ. She’s incredibly quick around the court and “weaves a web” for her opponents. She often baits them into going for too much with their shots and she can outlast almost anyone. She doesn’t have a very powerful game, but Kasatkina knows how to get her opponents out of position. She’s very comfortable on indoor hard courts and should not be underestimated in these slower conditions. I expect her to cause some upsets at the YEC.

Prediction

My prediction for the YEC Final: Jessica Pegula def. Iga Świątek.

Although she lost her first match, I think the Round Robin format will favor Pegula. She has been incredibly reliable and consistent all year long, and that should serve her well with this format. Given her consistency and knack for beating who she’s “supposed” to beat, you still have to like her chance of making it through her group. Iga Świątek should be able to get through her group as well - the slower conditions will play to her strengths. I believe Pegula will defeat Swiatek in the final. Although Swiatek leads the head-to-head 4-1, Pegula looked awfully close to getting the best of Iga in their most recent meeting at the San Diego Open. She lost in three sets (4-6, 6-2, 6-2), but it’s evident that Pegula is becoming more comfortable in the matchup with each and every loss. Swiatek will be a tough out, but Pegula has the ability to break down Iga’s forehand with her flat groundstrokes and attack her second serve. Pegula is my pick to win the YEC.