ROAD TO RIYADH: All you need to know

tennis22 October 2024 18:08
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Eight of the world’s best women tennis players will be in action in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, for the 2024 WTA Finals.

VENUE: King Saud University Indoor Arena

DATE: 2-9 November

BROADCAST DETAILS

Saturday. 2 November

First match: 5:00pm. SS Grandstand
Second match: 7:00pm. SS Tennis

Sunday, 3 November

First match: 2:30pm. SS Tennis
Second match: 5:00pm. SS Grandstand

Monday, 4 November

First match: 2:30pm. SS Tennis
Second match: 5:00pm. SS Tennis

Tuesday, 4 November

First match: 2:30pm. SS Tennis
Second match: 5:00pm. SS Tennis

Wednesday, 5 November

First match: 2:30pm. SS Tennis
Second match: 5:00pm. SS Tennis

Thursday, 6 November

First match: 2:30pm. SS Tennis
Second match: 5:00pm. SS Tennis

Friday, 7 November

First match: 2:30pm. SS Tennis
Second match: 5:00pm. SS Tennis

Saturday, 8 November

First match: 5:00pm. SS Tennis
Second match: 7:00pm. SS Tennis

Sunday, 9 November

Final: 6:00pm. SS Tennis

* SS Tennis channel on DStv *

THE ELITE EIGHT 

Back at World No 1 for the first time in almost a year, Aryna Sabalenka has the momentum heading to Riyadh.

She will be joined by defending champion Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, Zheng Qinwen and Barbora Krejcikova.

There's some déjà vu present – Sabalenka also held the World No 1 ranking going into last year's Finals, before Swiatek pipped her for the year-end top spot by going through the year-ending championships undefeated.

EXPECTATIONS 

Tournament director Garbine Muguruza is excited as the anticipation heightens for the season ending event.

"In 2024, we have seen 11 different winners across Grand Slams and WTA 1000 tournaments, so I fully expect to see incredible match action and on-court heroics in Riyadh. We are very much looking forward to kicking off the first year of the WTA Finals Riyadh.”

FORMAT

Qualified players 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.

DEFENDING CHAMPION

In 2023 edition, Swiątek beat Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-0 to claim her first WTA Finals title played in the Mexican city of Cancún.

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