Five youngest players to win WTA Finals title

Women’s tennis has seen many icons such as Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams and more. Likewise, the circuit is currently seeing the emergence of players like Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek. Consistency is vital in a sport like tennis. In order to qualify for the WTA Finals, a star must consistently perform well during that season on the tour.

The tennis player who outperformed the other seven players to win the finals receives the final prize, and consistency is seen altogether with experience. However, at times a young player takes the stage and becomes a renowned personality in the tennis world.

Hence, in this article let’s see the five youngest players to win the WTA Finals

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

Steffi Graf holds the second-most Majors in women's singles during the Open Era with 22 Grand Slam victories. She also won all four Grand Slams and the Olympic gold medal in 1988, making her the only tennis player to accomplish the Golden Slam in a single year.

She took home her first year-end titles in 1987. Steffi Graf stunned Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini in the final 4–6, 6–4, 6–0, 6–4. Before defeating Sabatini, she defeated countrywoman Sylvia Hanika in the round of four and Helena Suková in the quarterfinals.

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

Chris Evert won four year-end singles titles. She won the tournament for the first time in 1972, when she was just 17 years old, defeating Australian Kerry Melville. 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

The only person on the list to win the title in the 21st century is Maria Sharapova. Then a prodigy, Sharapova scripted history by winning her first Grand Slam title, the Wimbledon Championships in 2004. She defeated Serena Williams 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 to win the year-end titles that same year.

Despite being seeded sixth in the WTA Finals, she defeated players like Vera Zvonareva and Svetlana Kuznetsova in the group stage. However, she did lose to Amélie Mauresmo of France. She defeated Anastasia Myskina, a countrywoman, in three sets in the semifinals before playing Williams in the final.

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

Tracy Austin, a former American tennis player, only ever won the WTA Finals once, defeating Martina Navratilova 6–2, 2–6, 6–2. She defeated Greer Stevens and Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the group stage, while Wendy Turnbull pulled out. 

Austin was just 17 years old at the time, making her the youngest player to win the year-end titles. During her professional career, she also won two Grand Slam championships, including the US Open in 1979 and 1980.

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. At the age of 16, she defeated Argentina's Gabriela Sabatini in a thrilling five-setter 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 to win her first season-ending title in 1990.

One of the leading contenders for the title, Martina Navratilova, had knee surgery and had to withdraw from the tournament, while Steffi Graf of Germany was seeded first. The nine-time Grand Slam champion remains the only player to win the WTA Finals before turning 17.

Cover Credits - The Guardian