Five youngest players to win WTA Finals title

When she won in 2024, Coco Gauff became the third youngest player in 21st century to win the WTA Finals.

Women’s tennis has seen multiple icons such as Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams and more. Similarly, the circuit is currently witnessing the likes of Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka in the making. In a sport like tennis, consistency plays a crucial role. To secure a spot in the WTA Finals, a star has to perform well constantly on the tour in that particular season.

And the final prize is given to the tennis star who outclassed the other seven players to win the finals, and consistency is seen altogether with experience. However, at times, a young star takes the stage and becomes a renowned personality in the tennis world. Hence, without further ado, let’s take a look at the five youngest players to win the WTA Finals:

5. Steffi Garf: 18 years, 5 months, 9 days

With 22 Grand Slam titles, Steffi Graf has the second-most Majors in women’s singles in the Open Era. Additionally, she is the only tennis player to achieve the Golden Slam in the same calendar year—by winning all four Grand Slams and the Olympic gold medal in 1988.

In 1987, she won her first year-end championships. Steffi Graf stunned Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini in the final 4–6, 6–4, 6–0, 6–4. She won against Helena Suková in the quarterfinals and countrywoman Sylvia Hanika in the last four before beating Sabatini.

Also Read: List of tennis players to achieve singles career golden slam

4. Chris Evert: 17 years, 9 months, 25 days

Chris Evert won for year-end singles titles. In 1972, at the age of 17, she defeated Kerry Melville of Australia to win the tournament for the first time. The final was played at Boca Raton in Florida and Evert later returned to win the title in 1973.

3. Maria Sharapova: 17 years, 6 months, 27 days

Maria Sharapova is the only name in the list, who won the title in the 21st century. Then a prodigy, Sharapova scripted history by winning her first Grand Slam title, the Wimbledon Championships in 2004. In the same year, she won the year-end championships by defeating Serena Williams 4–6, 6–2, 6–4.

Seeded sixth in the WTA Finals, she took down the likes of Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva in the group stage. However, she also suffered a loss to France’s Amélie Mauresmo. In the semifinals, she defeated countrywoman Anastasia Myskina in three sets before she faced Williams in the final.

2. Tracy Austin: 17 years, 4 months, 11 days

Former American tennis star Tracy Austin won the WTA Finals only once, in 1980, where she stunned Martina Navratilova 6–2, 2–6, 6–2. In the group stage, she defeated Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Greer Stevens while Wendy Turnbull withdrew.

At the time, Austin was only 17 years old and she became the then-youngest player to win the year-end championships. She also won two Grand Slam titles in his professional career, the US Open in 1979 and 1980.

Also Read: Top five youngest ATP Finals winners

1. Monica Seles: 16 years, 11 months, 16 days

One of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in women’s tennis, Monica Seles is the youngest champion of the WTA Finals in history. Aged 16, she won her first season-end title in 1990 by stunning Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina in the summit clash in a stunning five-setter 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2.

Martina Navratilova, one of the top favourites for the title, withdrew from the tournament due to knee surgery while Germany’s Steffi Graf was seeded first. The nine-time Grand Slam champion remains the only player to win the WTA Finals before turning 17.

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