The WTP Finals is one of the most vied-for titles for a tennis player in a calendar year. Only the best eight of the players and pairs qualify for the year-end tournament after a year of dedication and perseverance.
While experienced players usually become the favourites for the spectators, sometimes it’s the young talent who shine at crucial times. In this article, let us take a look at some of the yougest players who won the WTP Finals title in tennis history.
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Monica Seles
Monica Seles is the youngest champion of the WTA Finals in the history of tennis. She was aged 16 years, 11 months, 16 days when she lifted her first season-end title in 1990 by stunning Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 in the summit clash.
Martina Navratilova, one of the top contenders for the title, withdrew from the tournament due to knee surgery while Germany’s Steffi Graf was seeded first. The nine-time Grand Slam champion remains the only player to win the WTA Finals before turning 17.
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Tracy Austin
American tennis ace Tracy Austin won the WTA Finals in 1980 at age 17 years, 4 months, 11 days, becoming the second youngest woman to win the title. She stunned Martina Navratilova 6–2, 2–6, 6–2 in the final. At that time, she was the youngest to achieve the feat.
She defeated Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Greer Stevens in the group stage while Wendy Turnbull withdrew. She won two Grand Slam titles in his professional career, the US Open in 1979 and 1980.
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Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova is the only player who won the title in the 21st century. The Russian was 17 years, 6 months and 27 days old when he won the WTP Finals title.
Sharapova was having a good season and scripted history by winning her first Grand Slam title, the Wimbledon Championships in 2004. She finished off the season in style by winning the year-end championships, defeating none-other-than Serena Williams 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 in the final.
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Chris Evert
Chris Evert won four WTP Finals titles in singles. In 1972, at the age of 17 years, 9 months, 25 days she won her first year-end title by defeating Kerry Melville of Australia to win the tournament for the first time. She replicated the feat in 1973 to win second straight WTP Finals crown.
Also Read: Billie Jean King Cup 2024 Finals: Complete Squad Of All Participating Nations
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Steffi Garf
Steffi Graf won her first WTP Finals title when she was 18 years, 5 months, 9 days oldmin 1987. The German stunned Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini in the final 4–6, 6–4, 6–0, 6–4. She got the better of Helena Suková in the quarterfinals and countrywoman Sylvia Hanika in the last four.
Graf has the second-most Majors in women’s singles in the Open Era with 22 Grand Slam titles. Her greatness can be gauged by the fact that she is the only tennis player to achieve the Golden Slam in the same calendar year—by winning all four Grand Slams and the Olympic gold medal in 1988.
