2022 saw quite a bit of shakeup in the WTA doubles landscape with several partnership transitions and new teams who emerged at the top of the women’s game.
Of all eight teams who qualified for the 2021 WTA Finals in Guadalajara, only one of those teams is still intact and qualified this year – top seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova. With an 18-0 record in doubles majors this year, their level and experience often looked head and shoulders above the field in the tournaments they played together.
Related Podcast
2022 WTA Finals Doubles Preview Podcast: Will & Hanlon discuss all 8 teams fighting for the year-end trophy
Other players qualified for back-to-back finals in 2021 and 2022, but this time with different partners, including Elise Mertens, Demi Schuurs, Desirae Krawczyk, and Giuliana Olmos.
As we gear up for the 2022 WTA Finals in Fort Worth, we’ll be previewing each doubles team in-depth before the competition begins on October 31, beginning with the No. 8 seed and working our way to the top.
See the schedule & buy tickets here on the WTA Website
1. Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova
In a WTA doubles landscape that saw a lot of partnership changes over the last year, the top seeded Czech duo has remained the constant. With six majors, an Olympic gold medal, a Billie Jean King Cup trophy, and a 2021 WTA Finals title in their growing doubles resume, Krejcikova and Siniakova have become the true alpha team on the doubles tour. If they continue at this pace, the 26-year-old Czech duo could very well become one of the all-time greatest doubles teams in WTA history.
Partnership Snapshot
- Partnership History: They have been playing together for over 10+ years since juniors and know each other very well on and off the court. 2018 was their breakout year on tour in doubles, winning their first major and qualifying for their debut WTA finals.
- 2022 Team Record: 23-4 (85%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: Australian Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open (won 3 of 4 majors)
- Season Highlights: Despite Krejcikova being sidelined much of the beginning of the season, they showed up for the big events and won all three majors they played in with an impressive 18-0 doubles record at grand slams this year. They have the highest doubles season win percentage and H2H against the WTA finals field in 2022. Outside of Krejcikova, Siniakova racked up a tour-leading six titles and won tournaments with Kirstina Mladenovic, Storm Sanders, and Bernarda Pera.
Strategy Snapshot
- Why It Works: Krejcikova is as good as they come from the baseline and won’t be phased rallying with anyone. Siniakova is the best mover and most aggressive net player on tour. That combined with their solid serves and returns make them the WTA’s top team.
- When It Doesn’t: Siniakova’s serve is the weak link. She can miss a lot of first serves or double fault at times putting them in a pressure spot to break the opponents… which they often do.
WTA Finals Rundown
- Group: Pam Shriver
- 2022 H2H vs. Field: 4-1 (80%)
- Dabrowski/Olmos: 1-0
- Gauff/Pegula: 0-0
- Kichenok/Ostapenko: 2-0
- Kudermetova/Mertens: 1-0
- Krawczyk/Schuurs: 0-0
- Danilina/Haddad-Maia: 0-1
- Prediction: The Czechs are simply too good and have largely looked head and shoulders above the field in the events they have played this year. The round robin format should play to their benefit by providing a higher margin and opportunity to play into form. They will capture their 2nd year-end championship and win back-to-back titles.
2. Gaby Dabrowski & Giuliana Olmos
Gaby Dabrowski and Gugu Olmos enter their first WTA finals together in 2022 as a new pairing that formed at the beginning of the year. Dabrowski is no stranger to the WTA finals. She made three previous appearances from 2017-2019 with former partner Yifan Xu, who is also in the field this year. Olmos made her individual debut last year with former partner Sharon Fichman but did not advance past the round robin group stage.
Related Podcast
Gaby and Gugu Talk Doubles in Toronto: Gaby Dabrowski and Gugu Olmos sit down with Will Boucek to talk doubles strategy and their partnership.
Partnership Snapshot
- Team History: Began playing together in January 2022 during the Australian swing
- 2022 Team Record: 36-16 (69%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: Two titles in Madrid and Tokyo; finalists in Rome and San Diego
- Season Highlights: After a slow start to 2022, Dabrowski and Olmos caught fire at Indian Wells with a semi-finals performance and carried that form into the clay season with a win in Madrid and a runner-up performance in Rome. They suffered a few tough losses at the slams but rebounded again this fall with a big title win in Tokyo. They have arguably been the most consistent team from start to finish in 2022, with two titles, two runner-up performances, four semifinals, and four quarterfinals.
Strategy Snapshot
- Why It Works: Gaby Dabrowski has one of the most complete doubles games on tour with the perfect mix of power, placement, shot selection, and doubles IQ. Her aggressive net game complements Gugu Olmos’ playing style well, who is a solid baseline player and strong returner. Olmos’ cool composure and supportive nature help keep Dabrowski’s emotions in check if she is having an off day. Likewise, Gaby’s high energy helps motivate Gugu during tense pressure situations.
- When It Doesn’t: A lot of their success rides on Olmos’ baseline matchup. If she isn’t winning, she can’t set up Dabrowski at the net as well.
WTA Finals Rundown
- Group: Pam Shriver
- 2022 H2H vs. the field: 3-6 (33%)
- Krejcikova/Siniakova: 0-1
- Gauff/Pegula: 0-1
- Kichenok/Ostapenko: 1-1
- Kudermetova/Mertens: 0-1
- Xu/Yang: 0-1
- Krawczyk/Schuurs: 2-0
- Haddad-Maia/Danilina: 0-1
Prediction: Despite being the No. 2 seed, they don’t have as strong of a H2H against the field as you would expect. They are still the most solid and reliable team in their group and will advance out of pool play as the top seed from their group before falling in the semi-finals.
3. Coco Gauff & Jessica Pegula
Much to the delight of U.S. tennis fans, Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will be making their WTA finals debut in both singles and doubles. Of all the doubles teams in the field, this duo is the most likely household name among casual tennis fans largely due to Gauff’s popularity beyond the tennis world.
While at very different stages of their career, Gauff and Pegula’s rise up the singles and doubles rankings in 2022 happened simultaneously through their consistent performance. Gauff and Pegula are currently ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in doubles, respectively, and No. 3 and No. 4 in singles.
Related Article
Gauff and Pegula Rise Up the Rankings: Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula Take U.S. tennis by storm in singles AND doubles
Partnership Snapshot
- Partnership History: Teamed up for the first time in February 2022 during the Middle East swing; Gauff previously played with Caty McNally (“McCoCo”) but began playing with Pegula due to similarity in singles rankings and schedule.
- 2022 Team Record: 22-6 (79%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: 3 titles in Doha, Toronto, and San Diego; finalists at Roland Garros
- Season Spotlight: Unlike other teams who have had periods of big runs during one point of the season, Gauff and Pegula have been reliably consistent when playing together the entire year. Their best stretch came at the beginning of the summer, making the finals of Roland Garros, winning Toronto, and recently winning San Diego, going 13-2 during this four-month stretch. They have a favorable H2H against the competition and the second-highest win percentage of any other team in the WTA finals, only behind the No. 1 Czech team of Krejcikova/Siniakova.
Strategy Snapshot
- Why It Works: Gauff’s doubles IQ has improved tremendously this year, which complements her athleticism and movement to be a force at the net. Her first serve is also one of the best in the women’s game right now. Pegula is solid off both groundstroke wings and stays cool/consistent under pressure, steadying the ship if Gauff’s forehand or serve goes awry at times.
- When It Doesn’t: Neither player has the aggressive doubles instincts at the net that you typically need to win the year-end finals. Pegula has good defensive volleys, and Gauff’s net movement has improved, but they’re nowhere near someone like Siniakova, Dabrowski, or Schuurs in terms of net movement. However, they might be able to make up for it in other areas.
WTA Finals Rundown
- Group: Rosie Casals
- 2022 H2H vs. the Field: 6-3 (67%)
- Krejcikova/Siniakova: 0-0
- Dabrowski/Olmos: 1-0
- Kichenok/Ostapenko: 1-0
- Kudermetova/Mertens: 1-0
- Xu/Yang: 1-1
- Krawczyk/Schuurs: 2-1
- Haddad-Maia/Danilina: 0-1
- Prediction: Gauff and Pegula will square off against top seeds Krejcikova/Siniakova for the first time in their group. Look for the Americans to finish second in the Rosie Casals group behind the Czechs and face them again in the finals. They will come up short and take the runner-up trophy.
4. Veronika Kudermetova & Elise Mertens
Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova are another new pairing in 2022 who have each enjoyed considerable success with a wide mix of doubles partners in their careers. 2022 will mark Mertens’ fourth WTA finals appearance with four different partners.
She finished runner-up in 2021 with Hsieh Su-Wei and also qualified in 2019 with Aryna Sablenka and in 2018 with Demi Schuurs. Kudermetova will make her debut WTA finals appearance but is no stranger to the big doubles stage.
Partnership Snapshot
- Partnership History: First teamed up in 2022 when their former partners decided to focus on singles or take time away from the game
- 2022 Team Record: 26-11 (70%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: Winners in Dubai and finalists in Doha, Miami, and Hertogenbosch
- Season Spotlight: Their best tennis came on the hard courts in the first few months of the year where they went 15-4 which included a semifinal run at the Australian Open, championship in Dubai, and runners-up in Doha and Miami. Since then, they finished 11-7 the rest of the year, a bit lackluster for their standards.
Strategy Snapshot
- Why It Works: Both accomplished singles players in their own right, Kudermetova and Mertens have a solid baseline game with strong groundstrokes and consistent playing styles. Mertens easily has the best lob on tour and uses it tactfully to redirect points, expose opponents’ weaknesses and set up Kudermetova to attack at the net. Being singles players, they also have better serves and returns than many doubles specialists.
- When It Doesn’t: Their biggest strength can also be their biggest weakness. They play fairly similar to one another and lack the yin/yang contrast and balance you typically see in great doubles teams. Neither have the explosive, aggressive game or mentality you need in a doubles partnership to take over the match in tight situations, especially at the net.
WTA Finals Rundown
- Group: Pam Shriver
- 2022 H2H vs. the field: 3-5
- Krejcikova/Siniakova: 0-1
- Dabrowski/Olmos: 0-1
- Gauff/Pegula: 0-1
- Kichenok/Ostapenko: 1-1
- Xu/Yang: 2-1
- Krawczyk/Schuurs: 0-0
- Haddad-Maia/Danilina: 0-0
- Prediction: Though crafty and consistent, Kudermetova and Mertens are drawn into a group of aggressive baseline players and big servers who can overpower them on a fast indoor hard court. They won’t make it out of group play.
Play Doubles?
Get doubles tips and strategies every Thursday – learn to play smarter and win more matches!
Bonus Guide: 3 Doubles Tactics to Force Errors & Get More Easy Volleys
5. Lyudmyla Kichenok & Jelena Ostapenko
Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko will both make their doubles WTA finals debut in 2022. Ostapenko qualified in singles in 2017 but had yet to qualify for doubles until this year. With two titles this year and wins over a majority of the field, look for them to enter the field with confidence and motivation, especially after suffering a close (and controversial) loss to Krejcikova and Siniakova in Guadalajara.
Partnership Snapshot
- Team History: Played on and off together in 2021 before teaming up full-time in 2022
- 2022 Team Record: 34-14 (71%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: Winners in Birmingham and Cincinnati; finalists in Dubai and Eastbourne.
- Season Highlights: Overcame a fairly slow start to the season to play their best tennis in the summer months with a 23-5 record from Roland Garros to the U.S. Open. This impressive run included titles on both grass and hard-courts plus back-to-back major semifinal performances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Strategy Snapshot
- Why It Works: Ostapenko is one of the hardest hitters in the women’s game and goes for broke just about every shot. 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.
- When It Doesn’t: See above. Ostapenko has no plan B in her attacking game style and easily gets frustrated on court. Even with Kichenok there to help her steady the ship in doubles, Ostapenko’s low margins and strong emotions can bring the team down when she’s not at her best.
WTA Finals Rundown
- Group: Pam Shriver
- 2022 H2H vs. the field: 3-6
- Krejcikova/Siniakova: 0-2
- Dabrowski/Olmos: 1-1
- Gauff/Pegula: 0-1
- Kudermetova/Mertens: 1-1
- Xu/Yang: 1-1
- Krawczyk/Schuurs: 0-0
- Haddad-Maia/Danilina: 0-0
- Prediction: Kichenok and Ostapenko have played some of their best tennis on the big stages this year. Plus, their aggressive playing style and big upside will benefit them on the fast indoor hard courts. They will advance out of their group into the semi-finals but fall short from there.
See the schedule & buy tickets here on the WTA Website
6. Yifan Xu & Zhaoxuan Yang
Xu and Yang will enter their first WTA finals together in Fort Worth as a doubles team. Xu is no stranger to this stage, however, as this will be her fourth career WTA finals appearance. She and former partner Gaby Dabrowski qualified for three consecutive years between 2017-2019.
Her experience and doubles court sense paired with Yang’s aggressive game style will make a formidable team capable of upsetting anyone on the right day. Plus, some of their best tennis in 2022 has come on U.S. soil, which could help their chances in Fort Worth.
Partnership Snapshot
- Team History: Played together on/off in 2021 before partnering together full-time in January 2022.
- 2022 Team Record: 31-19 (62%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: Two titles at Indian Wells and San Jose; three semi-final appearances in Sydney, Dubai, and Eastbourne
- Season Spotlight: Xu and Yang played their best tennis this year under the California sun, notching their biggest career doubles title together at Indian Wells in the spring. They also teamed up to win the title in San Jose to kick off the summer hardcourt swing.
Strategy Snapshot
- Why It Works: Similar to any good doubles team, they complement each other very well. Xu is an experienced and savvy doubles player with impressive shot making and a strong tactical mindset. Yang is an explosive baseline player with a strong return that helps set up Xu at the net. As an added bonus, they are also a lefty-right pairing who return with forehands in the middle.
- Why It Doesn’t: Xu has loads of experience, but at only 5’5 she doesn’t have the reach or firepower some of the other players have. Yang can double fault in some big moments and lack consistency at times.
WTA Finals Rundown
- Group: Rosie Casals
- 2022 H2H vs. The Field: 5-5
- Krejcikova/Siniakova: 0-0
- Dabrowski/Olmos: 1-0
- Gauff/Pegula: 1-1
- Kichenok/Ostapenko: 1-1
- Kudermetova/Mertens: 2-1
- Krawczyk/Schuurs: 0-2
- Haddad-Maia/Danilina:
- Prediction: Drawn in the toughest of the two groups with No. 1 Krejcikova/Siniakova, No. 3 Gauff/Pegula, and No. 8 Krawczyk/Schuurs, Xu and Yang will have a hard time making it out of the round robin stage with unfavorable matchups.
7. Anna Danilina & Beatriz Haddad-Maia
It’s safe to say Beatriz Haddad-Maia and Anna Danilina will be coming in hot to Fort Worth. The Brazilian-Kazakhstan duo grabbed the final doubles spot for the WTA finals last week in Guadalajara, narrowly edging frontrunners Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez, and eventually passed Krawczyk/Schuurs to claim the No. 7 seeding.
En route to qualifying for the finals, they scored a string of impressive wins over three top teams who also qualified: Krawczyk/Schuurs, Gauff/Pegula, and Krejcikova/Siniakova. In the finals, they fell to Luisa Stefani and Storm Sanders in a thrilling three-set match.
Partnership Snapshot
- Team History: Haddad-Maia and Danilina first teamed up in January 2022 and won their first tournament together in Sydney.
- 2022 Team Record: 25-11 (67%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: One title in Sydney; Australian Open finalists
- Season Spotlight: Despite not playing a full-time schedule together this year, Haddad-Maia and Danilina’s strong start and finish landed them in the WTA finals. In their first two tournaments together, they finished 9-1 capturing the Sydney Tennis Classic and runner-up trophy at The Australian Open. When it mattered most, they concluded their season with a surprise run to the finals in Guadalajara to qualify for the WTA finals.
- Fun Fact: Beatriz Haddad-Maia is also a top 20 singles player, with a nearly identical singles and doubles ranking (15 and 13, respectively) heading into the finals.
Strategy Snapshot
- Why It Works: Haddad-Maia’s aggressive lefty serve is a go-to weapon and frequently puts Danilina in a good position to attack at the net. Similar to many teams who qualified, they strategically play their lefty-righty combination to their advantage, returning with forehands in the middle.
- When It Doesn’t: This team has both high upside and low downside. When they’re hot, they can beat anyone, but when they’re cold, their energy and game can go south. They also have less experience and match toughness playing together than other teams since they have played together more sporadically than other teams who have played a full-time doubles schedule in 2022.
WTA Finals Rundown
- Group: Pam Shriver
- 2022 H2H vs. The Field: 4-2
- Krejcikova/Siniakova: 1-1
- Dabrowski/Olmos: 1-0
- Gauff/Pegula: 1-0
- Kudermetova/Mertens: 0-0
- Xu/Yang: 0-0
- Kichenok/Ostapenko: 0-1
- Krawczyk/Schuurs: 1-0
Prediction: Don’t let the No. 7 seed fool you since they have recent wins over several teams in the field. Will the low-pressure underdog status play into their favor? Or could they suffer from imposter syndrome and run out of steam? Their success will depend on who’s in their group. We predict they’ll be in the mix for a semifinal spot.
8. Desirae Krawczyk & Demi Schuurs
Desirae Krawczyk and Demi Schuurs both make their return to the 2022 WTA finals after qualifying in 2021, only this time they’ll be playing on the same side of the net. Last year, Krawczyk partnered with Alexa Guarachi and Demi Schuurs teamed up with Nicole Melichar-Martinez en route to their semifinals campaign.
The lefty-right duo of Krawczyk/Schuurs began their partnership earlier this year at Indian Wells and haven’t looked back since. Their consistent performance and complementary game styles rightfully earned them the last spot among the elite teams who qualified.
Partnership Snapshot
- Team History: Teamed up for the first time in March 2022 at Indian Wells
- 2022 Team Record: 31-15 (67%)
- 2022 Highlights: One title in Stuttgart and one runner-up performance in Madrid
- Season Spotlight: Demi and Des went on a tear during the European clay swing. They won the title in Stuttgart, finished runners-up in Madrid, and semi-finalists in Rome with an 11-2 record over this three-week period.
- Fun Fact: 2022 marks Demi Schuurs’ fourth consecutive WTA doubles finals appearance. The catch? She has qualified with four different partners: Elise Mertens (2018), Anna-Lena Groenefeld (2019), Nicole Melichar-Martinez (2021), and Desirae Krawczyk (2022).
Strategy Snapshot
- Why It Works: Demi Schuurs has some of the best hands and net instincts in the women’s doubles game. She also has one of the top returns on tour, frequently taking the ball early, and also returning and volleying. This combined with Krawczyk’s explosive lefty baseline game, great passing shots and angles, and quick movement make them tough to beat when they’re in the zone.
- When It Doesn’t: While Krawczyk and Schuurs have been consistent throughout the year, they’ve had trouble getting over big humps in the latter stages of the tournaments. Neither player receives many free points on serve, a crucial doubles weapon that other top teams possess who have gotten the best of them in quarterfinal or semi-final matches.
- Side note: Des and Demi made it to four quarterfinals and five semifinals this year. Can they get over the hump in Fort Worth?
Related Podcast
Jared Jacobs Interview: Krawczyk and Schuur’s coach, Jared Jacobs, shares insights into coaching on the WTA Doubles Tour
WTA Finals Rundown
- Group: Rosie Casals
- 2022 H2H vs. The Field: 3-6 (33%)
- Krejcikova/Siniakova: 0-0
- Dabrowski/Olmos: 0-2
- Gauff/Pegula: 1-2
- Kichenok/Ostapenko: 0-1
- Kudermetova/Mertens: 0-0
- Xu/Yang: 2-0
- Haddad-Maia/Danilina: 0-1
- Prediction: As the No. 8 seed, Krawczyk/Schuurs will have their hands full but expect them to be competitive in whichever group they draw. They can certainly win a match but won’t be favored to make it past the round robin stage.
See the schedule & buy tickets here on the WTA Website
Leave a Reply