New teams join WTA Finals

The WTA Finals have confirmed the addition of three new teams for the upcoming event. Among them is Kristina Mladenovic, who will return to the competition seven years after her last appearance. The official announcement was made on Monday, October 19, and includes the teams of Mladenovic and Hanyu Guo, Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai, as well as Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.

Mladenovic returns with history

Mladenovic, a Northern French player, had not participated in the WTA Finals since 2019, when she won the title alongside Timea Babos. Together, they had previously won the Masters in 2018. This return marks a significant moment for Mladenovic, as she will be competing with two consecutive trophies from her previous participation.

Guo makes WTA Finals debut

Hanyu Guo, who will be making her debut at the WTA Finals, has had an outstanding 2026 season with Mladenovic. The duo, who have been partnered since January, won the WTA 250 in Auckland and achieved their greatest feat at Wimbledon.

Wimbledon victory highlights partnership

At Wimbledon, Mladenovic and Guo defeated the world number one doubles pair Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend in the quarterfinals, and then defeated Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani with scores of 6-3 and 7-5 to win the title. This victory marked Mladenovic's seventh Grand Slam doubles title and Guo's first.