PICTURE: Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Zheng Qinwen & others turn heads in stunning WTA Finals trophy photoshoot
The official photograph of the 2024 WTA Finals is finally out, featuring the likes of Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula. While the event did not have much fanfare like previous years, all final eight WTA singles participants came together to pose in front of the winner's trophy before the event kicks off on Saturday (November 2) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Swiatek and Sabalenka had already teased their dresses during an earlier promo video the duo filmed for the tournament. As seen in that, the Pole opted for a lavender dress, while Sablenka chosen a stunning emerald green outfit.
On the other hand, Gauff went for a pink dress, with compatriot Pegula going with a baby blue one. Zheng Qinwen, the defending Olympics gold medalist, turned heads in a bright reddish pink outfit, while French Open and WImbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini went with a grey-ish sand-colored outfit that fit the theme of the Riyadh tournament rather well.
Finally, Wimbledon champ Barbora Krejcikova went for a ruby red dress, while former Wimbledon champ Elena Rybakina cut a stunning sight beside her in a light green dress.
The draw for the tournament is already announced, with the players split across two groups of four each. Sabalenka and Swiatek, as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively, have been placed in separate groups, making their battle for the year-end World No. 1 all the more interesting as the tournament progresses.
Who will face Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka in the group stage at the WTA Finals?
In the group stage, Iga Swiatek will face Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and Barbora Krejcikova, while Aryna Sabalenka has been drawn with Zheng Qinwen, Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini.
From each group, the top 2 will advance to the semifinals, with the winner of Group 1 taking on the runner-up from Group 2 and vice versa. Swiatek is the defending champion, having beaten Pegula in the final last year to win her maiden year-end championships. The Pole went undefeated in the tournament, beating Sabalenka in the final.
With the title last year, Swiatek earned the year-end World No. 1 spot, a feat she can achieve once again this year. Sabalenka, however, is in red-hot form, having won the US Open title for her second Grand Slam of the year and then the Wuhan Open to take the lead over the Pole in the WTA rankings last week.