The ATP and WTA tennis seasons are entering their final leg, with tournaments taking place in Japan and China. The season will culminate with the prestigious Tour Finals in Turin, Italy, for the ATP, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the WTA. Although the four Grand Slam tournaments have concluded, significant ranking points remain up for grabs at the 1,000-level events in China, with the WTA competing in Beijing and Wuhan, and the ATP in Shanghai.
In the WTA Tour, Iga Świątek has an opportunity to overtake Aryna Sabalenka for the world No. 1 ranking, especially after Sabalenka’s withdrawal from the China Open due to a minor injury. Local favorite and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen is expected to make a comeback, and young talent Coco Gauff is working on improving her serve. Amanda Anisimova, who reached the U.S. Open final, aims to improve her career-high ranking of world No. 4. As competition heats up for the final spots in Riyadh, many players from the lower tiers of the sport have made remarkable progress, adding excitement to the season.
On the ATP side, Carlos Alcaraz is determined to maintain his position as the world No. 1 after reclaiming it from Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open. As the season progresses, several players just outside the top rankings have the chance to capitalize on injuries to top competitors Ben Shelton and Jack Draper, potentially earning a spot in the Turin Finals. Additionally, younger players are striving to break into the top 32 rankings, aiming for a seeded position at the 2026 Australian Open.
These developments set the stage for thrilling competition, as both emerging and established players seek to leave their mark on the closing months of the tennis season. With various storylines unfolding, fans can look forward to an exciting conclusion to the year in professional tennis.