CHANDA RUBIN
The WTA player that may feel they have something to prove heading into the end of the season is Elena Rybakina. She began the season with uncertainty and changes in her coaching team and that seemed to overshadow her tennis at times. She’s firmly back inside the Top 10 and has a chance to make her third consecutive WTA Finals. Perhaps that is the motivation she needs to end the year on a high note.
STEVE WEISSMAN
Since reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, Mirra Andreeva is 4-4. It’s time to finish strong and carry that momentum into 2026, where she should be a contender for her first major title.
PAUL ANNACONE
This is an important time for Coco Gauff to stabilize things in her career. It’s been a great year, highlighed by her impeccable run to the Roland Garros title, but there’s been some ups and downs in the months since—in large part due to a case of the serving yips. She’s admirably sought to solve that problem for good, and she just captured her first WTA 1000 title of the season in Wuhan. Her competitive spirit is second to none, so I think this is a great challenge and she will be really motivated to finish by defending her title in Riyadh.
