Tennis This Week: WTA Finals, Stockholm Open, ATP Finals Preview

Sabalenka heads to Indian Wells chasing season-ending glory

Three tournaments, one huge week. Sabalenka has a golden chance to end her Grand Slam drought with WTA Finals glory, Fritz wants to turn Paris pain into Stockholm joy, and the ATP Finals are about to take centre stage in Turin.

‎Coco Gauff shines, Sabalenka eyes salvage job, Fritz heads to Stockholm...

All eyes are on Indian Wells this week, where Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to conquer the venue for a second time in 2026 and finish her season on a high. After a year of near-misses, the world No. 1 is desperate to lift the WTA Finals trophy and remind everyone why she is still the player to beat.

#TheUltimateStage is set. The curtain is ready to be raised on FAGE WTA Finals Indian Wells 🤩 #FAGEWTAFinals https://t.co/r8bjgw7AFC

— wta (@WTA) November 8, 2026

Sabalenka Steps Into Top Seed Role After Rybakina Pulls Out

Elena Rybakina's withdrawal has completely changed the picture in Indian Wells, leaving Sabalenka as the No. 1 seed and the woman to beat. She is not just the highest-ranked player left in the field she already knows what it takes to win here, having lifted the WTA 1000 trophy on these same courts earlier this year for her first big title of the season.

But that triumph has not been backed up the way she would have wanted. Since then, she has added just one more WTA 1000 crown and, crucially, no Grand Slams in 2026. That makes this week even bigger for her. Winning her first-ever WTA Finals title would go a long way to rescuing a year that, for the first time since 2022, has passed without a major.

A Tough Road Ahead Despite Favourite Status

That slow follow-up has only raised the stakes for this week. With just one more WTA 1000 title to her name and still no Grand Slam in 2026, Sabalenka knows this year-end championship carries extra weight. Lifting her maiden WTA Finals trophy would help rescue a season that, for the first time since 2022, has slipped by without a major title.

It will not be easy, though. The draw is packed with danger, starting in her own group with Mirra Andreeva. The 19-year-old broke through to win a Grand Slam this year and has already beaten Sabalenka in two of their last four meetings including in the Indian Wells final back in 2025.Sabalenka Steps Into Top Seed Role After Rybakina Pulls Out

Elena Rybakina's withdrawal has completely changed the picture in Indian Wells, leaving Sabalenka as the No. 1 seed and the woman to beat. She is not just the highest-ranked player left in the field she already knows what it takes to win here, having lifted the WTA 1000 trophy on these same courts earlier this year for her first big title of the season.

But that triumph has not been backed up the way she would have wanted. Since then, she has added just one more WTA 1000 crown and, crucially, no Grand Slams in 2026. That makes this week even bigger for her. Winning her first-ever WTA Finals title would go a long way to rescuing a year that, for the first time since 2022, has passed without a major.

Home Favourites Collide in Group A Opener

Group A has its own star power, with Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula both enjoying the backing of the home crowd. The pair were in superb form on the US hard courts this summer, clashing in the Cincinnati Open final won by Gauff before both went on to reach the semi-finals of the US Open.

They renewed their rivalry on the opening day of the Finals on Sunday, and it lived up to the hype. Gauff edged a gripping three-set battle 6-4, 6-7, 6-2, setting the tone for what promises to be a week full of blockbuster clashes between the world's best.

Fritz Looks to Heal Paris Heartbreak in Stockholm

While the eight men who won the Race to Turin get ready for their showdown this week, Taylor Fritz will be in Sweden trying to pick up the pieces. He is heading to Stockholm determined to bounce back after missing out on the year-end Finals.

His hopes were ended in Paris in brutal fashion, in one of the matches of the season. The American held two match points against Carlos Alcaraz but could not convert either, eventually falling in a narrow defeat. That loss will sting for a long time, but lifting the trophy in Stockholm would go some way to softening the blow.

Ruud, Musetti and Rune Stand in Fritz's Way

His biggest obstacle is likely to be the man Alcaraz beat in the very next round in Paris, Casper Ruud. The Norwegian won this title in 2025 and was in strong form again on his way to the semi-finals in the French capital.

Lorenzo Musetti will also fancy his chances of outshining them both. He got the better of Fritz in the Lyon final before stunning world No. 1 Alexander Zverev in Paris. Meanwhile, Holger Rune will be desperate to finish his season on a high as he continues his comeback from a long-term injury.

Turin Takes Centre Stage as ATP Finals Begin

As one season-ending showpiece wraps up, another gets underway on Sunday, with the ATP Finals kicking off in Turin.

The line-up may be a little lower-profile than usual, with Jannik Sinner ruled out through injury and Novak Djokovic failing to qualify. Even so, it still boasts three Grand Slam champions in Alcaraz, Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, while Ben Shelton, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar will all be giving everything to claim the biggest title of their careers so far.

The draw is set for Thursday, and we will break down the event in detail in next week's preview once the opening matches are underway.