2024 WTA Finals Doubles Preview: Parity and Predictions in Riyadh

The 2024 season ushered in a new WTA doubles era after many top teams parted ways at the end of 2023. Most notably, the former No. 1 Czech team of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova called it quits after dominating the tour for much of the last 4-5 years.

That didn’t stop Siniakova from shattering doubles records of her own in 2024. The top doubles player of the year by a landslide, Siniakova posted a 44-10 (81%) record and racked up five titles in 2024 with five different partners, including back-to-back majors at Roland Garros (with Coco Gauff) and Wimbledon (with Taylor Townsend). She now owns nine career doubles majors, the most of any active player on the ATP or WTA aside from Venus Williams, who owns 14 doubles majors.

Apart from Siniakova’s individual dominance, it was another parity-filled season that saw four different doubles teams win majors and several teams share the biggest-tour level titles. Here’s what to expect when the top eight teams battle it out in Riyadh.

WTA doubles No. 1 Katerina Siniakova has now won 5 doubles titles with 5 different partners in 2024:

🏆 Storm Hunter (Dubai)
🏆 Coco Gauff (Roland Garros)
🏆 Taylor Townsend (Wimbledon)
🏆 Barbora Krejcikova (Prague)
🏆 Shuai Zhang (Tokyo)

— Hanlon Walsh (@HanlonWalsh) October 27, 2024

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WTA Finals: Five Quick Facts

1. Two Returning Teams: Only two of eight teams who competed at the 2023 WTA Finals in Cancun will make their return in 2024: No. 2 Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe; No. 6 Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez.
2. WTA Finals Veterans: Gaby Dabrowski and Elise Mertens will both make their sixth WTA Finals appearance with multiple partners. Desirae Krawczyk enters her fourth consecutive WTA Finals event with three different partners.
3. Never Say Never: Speaking of tour veterans, Italian Sara Errani makes her first return to the WTA Finals in a decade with partner Jasmine Paolini. Errani and former partner Roberta Vinci qualified three consecutive seasons from 2012-2014.
4. Trio of Newcomers: This year marks the debut WTA Finals appearance for a trio of standout doubles players from 2024: Caroline Dolehide, Jasmine Paolini, and Taylor Townsend.
5. Missing in Action: Notable absences from last year’s doubles field – each of whom qualified for the WTA Finals in singles this year – include Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Barbora Krejčíková. Doubles veteran Demi Schuurs is also missing from this year’s field after qualifying for five WTA finals appearances with multiple partners from 2018 to 2023.

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Breaking Down the Top 8 Teams

Before the action kicks off in Riyadh, here’s a breakdown of the top 8 teams and each of their respective round robin groups. The top two teams from each group advance out of group play into the semi-finals to begin single elimination competition for the title.

Green Group

• No. 1 Lyudmyla Kichenok & Jelena Ostapenko
• No. 3 Elise Mertens & Hsieh Su-Wei
• No. 6 Nicole Melichar-Martinez & Ellen Perez
• No. 8 Taylor Townsend & Katerina Siniakova

White Group

• No. 2 Gaby Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe
• No. 4 Sara Errani & Jasmine Paolini
• No. 5 Caroline Dolehide & Desirae Krawczyk
• No. 7 Hao-Ching Chan & Veronika Kudermetova
• Alternates: Sofia Kenin & Bethanie Mattek-Sands

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No. 1 Lyudmyla Kichenok & Jelena Ostapenko

The Latvian-Ukrainian duo has been one of the longest-standing partnerships among the 2024 WTA Finals field. They posted a career-best doubles season with highlights on the grand slam’s bookends, notching their first doubles major at the U.S. Open and finishing runner-up at the Australian Open.

They won’t come into Riyadh with much momentum, however, as their last match together was their U.S. Open victory in early September. Or perhaps that was by design?

• Partnership History: They have played together consistently since 2022.
• 2024 Team Record: 31-11 (74%)
• 2024 Titles/Finals: Winners at U.S. Open, Eastbourne, and Brisbane; Finalists at Australian Open.
• Strategy Snapshot: Ostapenko is one of the hardest hitters in the women’s game and goes for broke on just about every shot. When she’s returning well, she can make holding serve a nightmare for opponents. With a partner like Kichenok who is steady and has a strong court sense and net game, Ostapenko’s baseline aggression is effective in doubles and complements Kichenok well.
• WTA Finals Group: Green Group
• 2024 H2H vs. Field: 3-6 (33%)
  • No. 2 Dabrowski & Routliffe: 2-1
  • No. 3 Hsieh & Mertens: 0-2
  • No. 4 Errani & Paolini: 0-1
  • No. 5 Dolehide &  Krawczyk: 0-0
  • No. 6 Melichar-Martinez and Perez: 0-1
  • No. 7 Chan & Kudermetova: 1-0
  • No. 8 Townsend & Siniakova: 0-1

Prediction: The fall season rust will be too much for the No. 1 seeds, who won’t advance out of group play in a tough round robin format.

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No. 2 Gaby Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe

Despite winning only one title in 2024, Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe have arguably been the best team of the year from start to finish. The Canadian-Kiwi duo went deep in most of the big events but suffered a few too many heartbreaking finals losses on the big stages with a mere 1-4 finals record.

Along the way, however, both players clipped career-high rankings: Routliffe reached world No. 1 midway through the season and Dabrowski climbed to No. 3.

• Partnership History: Teamed up during summer of 2023
• 2024 Team Record: 32-13 (71%)
• 2024 Titles/Finals: Winners in Nottingham; finalists in Toronto, Wimbledon, Eastbourne and Miami
• Strategy Snapshot: Gaby Dabrowski has one of the most complete doubles games on tour with a healthy mix of power, placement, shot selection, and doubles IQ. At 6-foot-2, Erin Routliffe possesses one of the longest wingspans at the net in the women’s game. This explosive team plays “old school doubles” and will be the first to charge the net together in the Riyadh field.
• WTA Finals Group: White Group
• 2024 H2H vs. the Field: 2-5 (29%)
  • No. 1 Kichenok & Ostapenko: 1-2
  • No. 3 Hsieh & Mertens: 0-0
  • No. 4 Errani & Paolini: 0-0
  • No. 5 Dolehide &  Krawczyk: 1-1
  • No. 6 Melichar-Martinez and Perez: 0-0
  • No. 7 Chan & Kudermetova: 0-1
  • No. 8 Townsend & Siniakova: 0-1

Prediction: The fast indoor surface should benefit their aggressive game style. Look for them to continue their consistency and finals trend, advancing into the finals but coming up short to a surprise winner (on paper).

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No. 3 Hsieh Su-Wei & Elise Mertens

If “Doubles Team of the Quarter” was an award given out, then Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Mertens would be your winners for Q1 2024. The fan favorite team came out of the gates strong at the beginning of the year and looked unbeatable at times. They posted a 12-3 record from January through March with a grand slam title at the Australian Open followed by a WTA 1000 title at Indian Wells.

Since then, their momentum has come to a screeching halt with limited match play (and wins) together. They haven’t played doubles together since the U.S. Open, where they suffered a surprise first-round straight-set loss, and their last match win together came at Wimbledon back in July. Experience will be on their side, however, as they finished runner-up at the 2021 WTA Finals in Guadalajara.

• Partnership History: Teamed up during 2021 season before reuniting again at beginning of 2024
• 2024 Team Record: 28-10 (74%)
• 2024 Titles & Finals: Australian Open, Indian Wells
• Strategy Snapshot: Hsieh and Mertens have the perfect yin-yang ingredients of a top women’s doubles team: someone who dominates at the net and someone who dominates at the baseline. Hsieh dominates at the net with incredible touch, deception and doubles IQ. Meanwhile, Mertens brings a steady baseline game and world-class lob that allows her to tactfully redirect points, neutralize net players, and force opponents into uncomfortable positions.
• WTA Finals Group: Green Group
• 2024 H2H vs. the Field: 5-2 (71%)
  • No. 1 Kichenok & Ostapenko: 2-0
  • No. 2 Dabrowski & Routliffe: 0-0
  • No. 4 Errani & Paolini: 1-0
  • No. 5 Dolehide &  Krawczyk: 1-1
  • No. 6 Melichar-Martinez and Perez: 1-0
  • No. 7 Chan & Kudermetova: 0-1
  • No. 8 Townsend & Siniakova: 0-1

Prediction: Despite a favorable H2H against the field, it’s hard to overlook their momentum (or lack thereof) the last few months. Expect them to win a match in group play but narrowly miss advancing to the semi-finals.

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No. 4 Sara Errani & Jasmine Paolini

Standing at 5’5” and 5’4” respectively, don’t let their height fool you. The Italians are fierce, feisty and fiery on the doubles court with the results to prove it. The highlight of their season came at the 2024 Paris Olympics when they captured the doubles gold medal for Italy.

Paolini will make her WTA Finals debut in singles and doubles while Errani returns to the competition for the first time in 10 years. Paolini is the only player in Riyadh who will be competing in both events this year. The Italians will enter Riyadh with more momentum than most teams in the field after winning the WTA 1000 China Open title in Beijing earlier this month.

• Partnership History: Played together on/off in 2022-2023 before playing full-time as a team in 2024.
• 2024 Team Record: 33-11 (75%)
• 2024 Titles/Finals: Winners in Linz, Rome, and China Open; Olympic gold medalists in Paris; Finalists at Roland Garros
• Strategy Snapshot: Their best surface is clay with three titles and a 15-3 record in 2024, but they’re also proven winners on hard courts. As a top 10 singles player, Paolini brings the baseline depth and consistency that complements Errani’s doubles all-court prowess. She moves well at the net and uses shot variety with slices, angles, and lobs to diffuse her opponents and redirect rallies to their advantage.
• WTA Finals Group: White Group
• 2024 H2H vs. the Field: 6-1 (86%)
  • No. 1 Kichenok & Ostapenko: 1-0
  • No. 2 Dabrowski & Routliffe: 0-0
  • No. 3 Hsieh & Mertens: 0-1
  • No. 4 Errani & Paolini: 1-0
  • No. 5 Dolehide &  Krawczyk: 1-0
  • No. 6 Melichar-Martinez and Perez: 2-0
  • No. 7 Chan & Kudermetova: 1-0
  • No. 8 Townsend & Siniakova: 0-0

Prediction: With hard court momentum this fall and a favorable head-to-head this year against the field, expect the Italians to advance out of group play but eventually come up short in the semi-finals.

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No. 5 Caroline Dolehide & Desirae Krawczyk

The Americans joined forces at the beginning of the season and posted a solid debut campaign to earn in the final eight. Dolehide, a WTA Finals newcomer, will lean on Krawcyk’s experience as they take the courts in Riyadh together. Krawczyk enters her fourth consecutive WTA Finals appearance with three different partners. She qualified with former partner Alexa Guarachi in 2021 before teaming with Demi Schuurs in 2022 and 2023.

The Americans’ 2024 highlight reel included their first WTA 1000 title together at the Canadian Open in Toronto, back-to-back major semi-final runs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and career-high doubles rankings for both players. Krawczyk reached her career-high at No. 7 in August while Dolehide climbed to No. 9. They won’t come into Riyadh with much form, however, having lost their last three matches since the U.S. Open.

• Partnership History: Teamed up at beginning of 2024
• 2024 Team Record: 28-17 (62%)
• 2024 Titles/Finals: National Bank Open (Toronto), San Diego finalists, Qatar finalists
• Strategy Snapshot: Krawczyk brings an explosive lefty baseline game to the table with a mix of passing shots, angles and quick movement that make this lefty-right pairing tough to beat when they’re in the zone. With a powerful forehand and big serve, Dolehide’s attacking game style complements Krawczyk’s consistency nicely, but the Dolehide train can occasionally fall off the tracks.
• WTA Finals Group: White Group
• 2024 H2H vs. the Field: 4-3 (57%)
  • No. 1 Kichenok & Ostapenko: 0-0
  • No. 2 Dabrowski & Routliffe: 1-1
  • No. 3 Hsieh & Mertens: 1-1
  • No. 4 Errani & Paolini: 0-1
  • No. 6 Melichar-Martinez and Perez: 1-0
  • No. 7 Chan & Kudermetova: 1-0
  • No. 8 Townsend & Siniakova: 0-0

Prediction: Despite their consistency, Dolehide and Krawczyk often hit a ceiling against many of the top teams. They’ll put up a competitive fight but won’t make it out of the group stage.

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No. 6 Nicole Melichar-Martinez & Ellen Perez

One of only two returning teams in the 2024 field, Nichole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez will look for a redemption title in Riyadh after finishing runner-up last year in Cancun. Along with Kichenok and Ostapenko, the American-Aussie pair is one of the longest tenured teams in the mix who will soon wrap up a third consecutive season partnering together.

Despite underperforming at the majors, 2024 was arguably their most successful season on tour as a pair with two WTA 500 titles, one WTA 125 title, and three runner-up finishes. They’ll come into Riyadh in strong form after advancing to the finals of Ningbo, which is even more impressive considering that Ellen Perez was fighting to overcome a broken finger. Melichar-Martinez also won the Korea Open title in September with Liudmila Samsonova.

• Partnership History: First teamed up midway through the 2022 season and reached the finals at this even last season.
• 2024 Team Record: 36-20 (64%)
• 2024 Titles & Finals: Winners in San Diego and Bad Homburg; Finalists in Linz, Dubai, and Ningbo
• Strategy Snapshot: At their best, Melichar-Martinez and Perez possess one of the bigger upsides of any doubles team in the field but can also be prone to up and down results. Melichar-Martinez’s powerful serve, forehand, and finishing at net complement Perez’s athleticism, footwork, and baseline play. If they catch fire at the right time, look out.
• WTA Finals Group: Green Group
• 2024 H2H vs. the Field: 2-5 (29%)
  • No. 1 Kichenok & Ostapenko: 1-0
  • No. 2 Dabrowski & Routliffe: 0-0
  • No. 3 Hsieh & Mertens: 0-1
  • No. 4 Errani & Paolini: 0-2
  • No. 5 Dolehide & Krawczyk: 0-1
  • No. 7 Chan & Kudermetova: 1-1
  • No. 8 Townsend & Siniakova: 0-0

Prediction: They’ll continue their fine fall season with a solid showing in group play to advance to the semi-finals, where they will come up short against the eventual champions.

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No. 7 Hao-Ching Chan & Veronika Kudermetova

Perhaps the most unlikely pair to qualify, Veronika Kudermetova and Hao-Ching (“Angel”) Chan made the most of their fall season to grab the final eight spot ahead of Sofia Kenin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands (The eighth seeds, Siniakova and Townsend, were already a lock by winning a grand slam title together at Wimbledon). Beginning in September, they posted a 12-3 record that included U.S. Open semifinals, finalists at the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing, and semifinals at the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open.

Neither are strangers to the WTA Finals, however. Kudermetova won the 2022 WTA Finals in Fort Worth alongside former partner Elise Mertens. Chan will make her 4th career WTA Finals appearance and first since 2019.

• Partnership History: Teamed up midway through 2024 season
• 2024 Team Record: 29-11 (73%)
• 2024 Titles & Finals: Winners in Stuttgart; Finalists in Berlin, Bad Homburg, and Beijing
• Strategy Snapshot: Also an accomplished singles player, Kudermetova has a solid baseline game with strong groundstrokes, a reliable return and powerful serve. Each of these tools complement Chan, a veteran doubles specialist, nicely and give her the ability to take control at the net.
• WTA Finals Group: White Group
• 2023 H2H vs. the Field: 3-4 (43%)
  • No. 1 Kichenok & Ostapenko: 0-1
  • No. 2 Dabrowski & Routliffe: 1-0
  • No. 3 Hsieh & Mertens: 1-0
  • No. 4 Errani & Paolini: 0-1
  • No. 5 Dolehide & Krawczyk: 0-1
  • No. 6 Melichar-Martinez: 1-1
  • No. 8 Townsend & Siniakova: 0-0

Prediction: Expect them to be competitive in group play with one match win under their belt, but narrowly miss out on advancing to the semi-finals.

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No. 8 Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend

Don’t let the number eight next to their team name fool you. This team has the most dangerous weapons and biggest upside among the competition in Riyadh. Siniakova, a nine-time major winner, is the most accomplished player in the field who has won five titles with five different partners this year.

Though less accomplished on paper, Townsend has built a successful doubles career around playing well with many partners. She has won seven WTA doubles with five different partners over the last few years.

The two joined forces during the European clay seasons, and shortly after, won Wimbledon together. It was an emotional occasion for Townsend who won her first grand slam title. Despite limited match play this fall, both Siniakova and Townsend are big-match players who will be a top favorite to win the title.

• Partnership History: First teamed up during the 2024 clay season
• 2024 Team Record: 13-5 (72%)
• 2024 Titles & Finals: Wimbledon champions
• Strategy Snapshot: Siniakova is the best mover and most aggressive net player on the doubles tour with a powerful backhand return. Townsend, a lefty, brings an equally as explosive net game, massive lefty forehand and fiery attitude to this powerful duo. If Siniakova can keep her cool and hold her serve, they should be a lethal pairing.
• WTA Finals Group: Green Group
• 2023 H2H vs. the Field: 3-0 (100%)
  • No. 1 Kichenok & Ostapenko: 1-0
  • No. 2 Dabrowski & Routliffe: 1-0
  • No. 3 Hsieh & Mertens: 1-0
  • No. 4 Errani & Paolini: 0-0
  • No. 5 Dolehide &  Krawczyk: 0-0
  • No. 6 Melichar-Martinez and Perez: 0-0
  • No. 7 Chan & Kudermetova: 0-0

Prediction: Despite limited match play, their head-to-head against the other top four seeds field this year says it all. Ladies and gentleman, our pick for your 2024 WTA Finals doubles champions.

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Who’s Your Pick to Win the Title?

Join the conversation and tag us on social media with your winner predictions or general thoughts ahead of the 2024 WTA Finals.

• Hanlon Walsh: @HanlonWalsh on Twitter
• Will Boucek: @WillBoucek on Twitter
• Tennis Tribe: @The_TennisTribe on Twitter
• Tennis Tribe: @TheTennisTribe on Instagram

The Doubles groups are set! 🤩
An incredible lineup of matchups awaits at the #WTAFinalsRiyadh 🎾 pic.twitter.com/IiOEhFBCnd

— WTA FINALS RIYADH (@WTAFinalsRiyadh) October 29, 2024