WTA Finals Doubles Take: A look at the Guadalajara field

All will be represented in the doubles field at the WTA Finals, making its way back to the calendar after a year off and being held in Guadalajara, Mexico. While two players among the 16 have won the title in the past (Su-Wei Hsieh and Samantha Stosur), none of the teams have come out on top at the season-ending event.

So before a new championship-winning duo is crowned, here’s a look at the teams vying for the title. (Seeds in parentheses.)

Barbora Krejcikova-Katerina Siniakova (1)

Titles Won in ‘21: 4

Best Slam Finish: French Open Champions

The only team to win two major tournaments in 2021 (the French Open, the Summer Olympics), Krejcikova and Siniakova have definitely earned their spot atop the team rankings. They’ve finished as runners-up at the WTA Finals in the past, but this will be a totally different situation as Krejcikova will also be playing in the singles portion of the tournament. How she handles doing double duty against the best of the best will be key to the duo’s chances.

Ena Shibahara-Shuko Aoyama (2)

Titles Won in ‘21: 5

Best Slam Finish: Wimbledon Semifinals

Now a few years into their partnership, Shibahara and Aoyama have only gotten better as time goes on. A sign of good things to come for the year was evident right from the start as they won their first two tournaments, with their double-digit winning streak coming to an end in the Australian Open quarters. The Japanese duo soon claimed their biggest victory in Miami and would go on to tack on two more wins over the summer to lead the tour in titles won. Closing out the year with a major triumph could set the stage for an even bigger ’22.

Su-Wei Hsieh-Elise Mertens (3)

Titles Won in ‘21: 2

Best Slam Finish: Wimbledon Champions

Winning majors and spending time atop the rankings had become par for the course for these two—even before they started playing together. Teaming up during the clay-court season, the pair quickly adjusted to each other, and entered the winners’ circle at Wimbledon. They closed out the regular season with the title in Indian Wells, further solidifying their status as a top team.

Demi Schuurs-Nicole Melichar Martinez (4)

Titles Won in ‘21: 2

Best Slam Finish: Australian Open Semifinals

Over the past several years, Schuurs has been one of the most prolific title-winners on the WTA Tour. However, she has yet to break through at the game’s biggest events. Melichar, a two-time major finalist, will be eager to help her partner peak at the right moment. The duo enjoyed a solid campaign in their first full year playing together, with titles on hard courts and clay. Though it’s been several months since their last final, they’re each among the best in the world on hard courts and could shake out of their slump in Mexico.

Samantha Stosur-Zhang Shuai (5)

Titles Won in ‘21: 2

Best Slam Finish: US Open Champions

If you’re going to break a two-year title drought, winning a prestigious tournament like the one in Cincinnati is the way to do it, which is what Stosur and Zhang accomplished this summer. As impressive as that was, their win at the US Open blew that out the water. Their surprise victory in New York was the duo’s second major victory together, and spurred on an impressive fall for Zhang—with and without Stosur. The veterans have shown in the second half of the year they can’t be counted out under any circumstances.

Desirae Krawczyk-Alexa Guarachi (6)

Titles Won in ‘21: 2

Best Slam Finish: US Open Semifinals

The dream season continues for Krawczyk: Though it didn’t contribute to her placement at the WTA Finals, the American did win three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles in 2021. She and Guarachi have been one of the tour’s best young teams the past couple of years, with their debut in the season-ending tournament marking a new milestone. A title would be the icing on the cake on a great campaign.

Darija Jurak-Andreja Klepac (7)

Titles Won in ‘21: 2

Best Slam Finish: French Open Quarterfinals

It’s extremely rare to see players in their mid- to late-30s making debuts at a year-end championship, but here we are with Jurak and Klepac, each of whom enjoyed the best seasons of their careers. In 2021, they were a threat on all surfaces, playing finals on clay, grass and hard courts and at one point, were among the hottest teams leading up to the US Open. The opportunity to play at the WTA Finals has been a long time coming, providing extra motivation to make their stay a long one.

Sharon Fichman-Giuliana Olmos (8)

Titles Won in ‘21: 1

Best Slam Finish: Australian Open Quarterfinals

In Melbourne, the pair advanced to their first major quarterfinal together, but soon after, Fichman was sideline with a shoulder injury. When she returned to action, the duo had a spring/early summer to remember: They won the biggest title of their respective careers—and first together—in Rome; reached the round of 16 at Roland Garros; and then went 7-3 on the grass. Fichman’s injury slowed their progress later in the year, but they’ve been working their way back into form. Olmos, one of Mexico’s best-ever players, will be ready to thrive in front of the home crowd.