FILE PHOTO: Aug 2, 2024; Paris, France; Iga Swiatek (POL) returns a shot against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (not pictured) in the bronze medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports/File photo
(Reuters) - World number one Iga Swiatek became the first player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals to be held in Riyadh from Nov. 2-9, the governing body of women's tennis said on Wednesday.
The season finale, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams, will offer record prize money of $15.25 million with increases in 2025 and 2026 after Saudi Arabia signed a three-year deal in April to host the event.
Poland's Swiatek, 23, will aim to defend her singles title.
"It's a great feeling to qualify for the WTA Finals for the fourth year in a row," said Swiatek, who has won five trophies this season including the French Open title and took bronze at the Paris Olympics.
"I hope the performances of the eight best players of the season will give a lot of joy to the fans all over the world."
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
