The WTA Finals are set to kick off this Saturday, a prestigious tournament where the top eight female tennis players of the season compete for 1,500 ranking points and significant acclaim, second only to Grand Slam events. Often referred to as the unofficial world championships, this year’s finals will take place from 2024 to 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following a lucrative agreement with the WTA which was largely influenced by the attractive financial conditions offered by the new hosts.
The total prize pot for this year’s tournament amounts to an impressive $15.5 million (approximately 57 million PLN). Just for attending, players like Iga Świątek are guaranteed to earn $340,000 (over 1 million PLN). Each subsequent victory in the group stage yields an additional $355,000 (around 1.3 million PLN), while reaching the semifinals can earn players another $1.29 million (approximately 4.76 million PLN). The champion of the finals will walk away with an astounding $2.54 million (roughly 9.37 million PLN). In total, if a player wins all their matches throughout the tournament, they could potentially take home $5.23 million (nearly 19.3 million PLN), surpassing earnings from any other Grand Slam event.
This significant financial commitment has raised questions and discussions about Saudi Arabia’s investments in tennis, women’s rights, and the broader implications for the sport in the region.
Iga Świątek is scheduled to play her first match during the WTA Finals on Saturday, November 1st, at 4:00 PM Polish time, facing Madison Keys, the 2023 Australian Open champion. Fans can look forward to live coverage of the match on WP SportoweFakty. The excitement surrounds not only the competition but also the spotlight it places on women’s sports and the ongoing dialogue about women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.