WTA Finals draw: Groups revealed as Aryna Sabalenka avoids Karolina Pliskova in round-robin phase

Shahida Jacobs
Aryna Sabalenka Madrid Open winner

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek find themselves in the same group for the season-ending WTA Finals in Guadalajara while Czech pair Barbora Krejcikova and Karolina Pliskova will square off in the round-robin stage.

The groups for the prestigious tournament were unveiled on Monday and Sabalenka, who is the highest-ranked player in the draw following world No 1 Ashleigh Barty’s withdrawal, headlines Group Chichén Itzá.

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The Belarusian has been paired with Greece’s Maria Sakkari and 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek from Poland with BNP Paribas Open champion Paula Badosa completing the line-up.

Reigning French Open champion Krejcikova is the only player in the draw to win a major this year and she is the top seed in Group Teotihuacán. The 25-year-old will face her compatriot and former world No 1 Pliskova.

Another former world No 1 in Garbine Muguruza also features in the group alongside Anett Kontaveit, who was the last player to secure a place at the event.

The group are named after ancient cities in Mexico and are a tribute to the pre-Colombian era of Mexican history.

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