William Burns' WTA Finals 2026 Predictions:

At the end of the year, the top eight tennis players in the world (WTA & ATP) compete against each other for another chance at a significant trophy. As a matter of fact, this tournament is the most significant tennis event in the calendar year (Grand Slam's not included.) That being said, there's tons to play for and I'm expecting some phenomenal matches to be played. This year's event is held from November 8-15.

#1 .. Elena Rybakina

The defending champion here at the WTA Finals gets her deserved #1 seed now. She had a terrific season in 2026, winning two grand slams and now leads the entire WTA in ranking points. She did just withdraw from the Japan Open, which could mean that she's got a bit of an injury lingering. However, she's got more than a week to recover from whatever she is dealing with for the final event of the season.

#2 .. Aryna Sabalenka

Coming into 2026, Sabalenka was a the clear #1 in the world. That being said, it's been a bit of a down season for the Belarusian. She's still one of the best of all time in my eyes when she's playing at her best & even though she hasn't played much entering this final tournament, Sabalenka remains one of my favorites to win this end-of season tournament.

#3 .. Mirra Andreeva

A sneaky pick to win here, Mirra Andreeva stole the spotlight when she won his first grand-slam of her career at the French Open earlier this season. Clay is becoming one of her favorite surfaces to play on. But, she's also very good on grass & the hardcourt. There's no question that she can compete amongst the best and I think that there's a great chance that she does well in this event.

#4 .. Jessica Pegula

Kind of slept on a bit, Jessica Pegula currently ranks as the #1 American player in the world at the moment. Her and Coco Gauff have gone back and forth for that accomplishment over the past couple of years and there's really nothing much needed to be said. She's very well rounded and a phenomenal ball striker with excellent footwork.

#5 .. Coco Gauff

The same can be said about her fellow compatriot. Coco moves extremely well and can strike the ball like there's no tomorrow when she's on her game. Gauff has also been taking some time to recover before this WTA Finals event and that could definitely help her be successful in this year's edition. It also could result in some slow starts.

#6 .. Elina Svitolina

While she hasn't been playing her best lately, there's been some great results in 2026. Elina Svitolina is extremely talented and has proven that she can hang with the best. But, she's never won a grand slam and the recent split between her and her husband could have an impact on this final tournament.

#7 .. Karolina Muchova

Another player who's never won a Grand Slam, Karolina Muchova is still one of the best. Hence why she's in this final event. Muchova's mix of power & finesse sometimes creates massive problems for her opponents and that's huge in important matches. Her serving consistency is also very impressive, ranking amongst the best.

#8 .. Linda Noskova

Another grand slam winner in 2026, the Wimbledon Champ should not be overlooked despite being the "eighth best player." She had a great US Open despite going out in the quarterfinals. When the lights get brighter, she seems to get better. I would not be surprised if she plays herself into the semis and/or finals in this competition. 

If you don't know the format, there will be two groups of four, each player playing each player in their respective group in a round robin style version of play. The top two players from each group will move on to the knockout stage, a mini Semi Finals/Finals to finish the tournament off. 
That being said, here's what I expect:

Because of injury, Iga Swiatek failed to qualify for an automatic spot in this year's 2026 WTA Finals. Even though she's been a consistent member of this group over the years, this gives more opportunities to new faces to show the world what they are capable of. I still believe that both Sabalenka and Rybakina are the clear top two players in the world, with both of them reaching the final at this competition last year. I would not be shocked at all if a rematch is on hand in the final. 

Aryna Sabalenka at ___ via. DraftKings Sportsbook. (will update closer to time.)