WTA Finals: Teotihuacan group

The WTA Finals are to be played in two round robin groups, with the best two players from each group moving on to the semifinals and the winner of those playing for the championship. 

A maximum of 1500 points are on the line, enough to shake up the rankings.

The group

The Teotihuacan group is the older of the two. They have nine titles between them this year, including the Roland Garros and Dubai masters champions.

There are two grand slam winners in Barbora Krejcikova (2021 Roland Garros) and Garbine Muguruza (2016 Roland Garros, 2017 Wimbledon)

This group seems to be the harder one.

Barbora Krejcikova (2)

• 25 years old
• Czechia
• World number three
• Three titles this year (including Roland Garros)
• Favourite

Krejcikova is the only slam winner in the final. Formerly a doubles specialist, she is also the only player in the ATP or WTA to qualify for both the doubles and singles finals this year.

The Czech is a clever and powerful player with great variety, the slower courts will favour her. She has shown proficiency on clay as well as being adaptable to these unique conditions.

Krejcikova last played at Indian Wells. She made the fourth round, but lost to another WTA finalist; Paul Badosa, who was the eventual champion of the tournament. 

2-3 record against the rest of the Teotihuacan group (40%)

Lost to Pliskova at their last meeting in 2018 (Roland Garros). 0-2 record overall.

Beat Muguruza at their last meeting this year (US Open). 2-1 record overall.

Never played Kontaveit. 

Karolina Pliskova (3)

• 29 years old
• Czechia
• World number four
• No titles this year
• Wimbledon finalist
• Strong player

Karolina has always been near the top of the game since she broke the top ten back in 2015, she’s one of the best players never to win a major.

Pliskova is a strong server and aggressive player, good when she’s on the attack. 

She holds the highest winning percentage against the rest of the group, thanks largely to Muguruza. But it has been a while since she’s played any of them, both Krejcikova and Kontaveit have been much improved this year.

However despite her power and strength, Pliskova’s movement is a weak area of her game, and she struggles against counter-punchers.

She may find a challenge against players with good defence, like Krejcikova, Sakkari, Badosa or Swiatek.

The Czech recently had a poor showing at Indian wells, she lost to lucky loser Haddad Maia in the third round.

13-2 against the rest of the Teotihuacan group (86%)

Beat Krejcikova at their last meeting in 2018 (Roland Garros). 2-0 record overall.

Beat Muguruza at their last meeting in 2019 (Australian Open). 8-2 record overall.

Beat Kontaveit at their last meeting in 2019 (Toronto). 3-0 record overall.

Garbine Muguruza (6)

• 28 years old
• Spain
• World number five
• Two titles (including Dubai masters)
• Olympic quarterfinalist
• Outsider

Muguruza has had a resurgent season after a rough 2018 and 2019. She’s back in the top ten for the first time since 2018. 

The Spaniard is a powerful baseliner and good on all surfaces. Similar to Sabalenka, she’s a high risk player, but more well rounded and experienced. 

Muguruza has claimed that clay is her surface, despite superior hardcourt results. The slower surface shouldn’t be a problem for her.

Her last showing was at the kremlin cup in the quarterfinal. She was handily defeated by a surging Kontaveit, 6-1, 6-1.

5-12 against the rest of the Teotihuacan group (29%)

Lost to Krejcikova at their last meeting this year (US Open). 1-2 record overall.

Lost to Pliskova at their last meeting in 2019 (Australian Open). 2-8 record overall.

Lost to Kontaveit in Moscow. 2-2 record overall.

Anett Kontaveit (8)

• 25 years old
• Estonia
• World number eight
• Four titles this year
• Never better than third round in a grand slam this year
• outsider

Anett Kontaveit has had her strongest season yet, breaking the top ten for the first time. In the last part of the season, she did exactly what she needed to to qualify for the WTA finals.

Following a quarterfinal loss to Ons Jabeur at Indian wells, Kontaveit won the Kremlin cup by beating Muguruza along the way. She then went on to win the Transylvania Open beating number one seed Simona Halep. 

Kontaveit’s late surge meant she narrowly beat Jabeur to the eighth spot in the WTA finals.

The Estonian has shown potential this year, with her creativity and variety.

2-5 against the rest of the Teotihuacan group (29%)

Never played Krejcikova.

Lost to Pliskova at their last meeting in 2019 (Toronto). 0-3 record overall.

Beat Muguruza at their last meeting at the Kremlin cup. 2-2 record overall.