Sunday will emerge two new tournament winners on WTA level. The finals of WTA 500 Guadalajara Open Akron and WTA 250 in Sao Paulo will both be settled between the finalists, who are yet to clinch the trophy on the main tour. Iva Jovic and Emiliana Arango will compete for the title in Mexico, while Janice Tjen and Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah are about to play in the final match in Sao Paulo. Both tournaments delivered surprises and upsets during the whole week, as none of Sunday's finalists were seeded in their event's draw.
WTA 500 Guadalajara - Jovic vs. Arango
The 18-year-old was considered as a dark horse in the bottom half of the draw in Mexico, knowing her abilities to dominate the rallies. Jovic has won 10 out of 15 of her matches on hard courts, recording impressive stats out of that sample. Her mental attitude allows her to prevail during the key moments - 64.7% of break points saved and 54.2% of break points converted rank her in the top 10 on hard courts on the main tour during this season. Her dominance efficiency and match efficiency are also more than impressive, even if the 17-year-old has still not operated with her serve as the lethal weapon. Jovic has needed to fight hard for the place in the final, winning two tight three-setters in a row. The semifinal clash against another teenager Nikola Bartunkova looked like emerging into a routine victory, however Jovic did not cross the finish line despite leading a set and a break up. The hefty advantage of 4-0 in the second set's tiebreak was also not enough, as the Czech came back winning 7 out of 8 following points. The American has not discouraged herself even despite losing an early break in the third set and finally won the match by 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 after 2:50 hours of battle after a dominant display of play in decisive games.
The Colombian proves her love of playing on Mexican hard courts this season. Arango replicates her run into the WTA 500 final in Merida half a year ago, which was preceded by winning the WTA 125 title in Cancun. Arango has very poor memories from the recent final in Merida, as she got double bageled by Emma Navarro there. The repeat of that scenario is not much likely this time, though. Arango has stormed through the field, being yet to lose a set in the tournament. She has put an upset over Elsa Jacquemot related to odds, being rated by 2.42 on average before the match. The Colombian delivered immense pressure on the French's serve, producing 41 pressure points and getting the breaks in crunch time of both sets, winning by 6-4 7-5. Interestingly, it was the 8th victory on hard courts on the main tour for the Colombian in 2025 - all achieved just in the tournaments in Merida and Guadalajara.
This is expected to be an exciting battle of both players being aggressive and efficient on return with some serving liabilities. Multiple breaks and plot twists look guaranteed, seeing how many pressure points are generated on average on both sides in Jovic's and Arango's matches on hard courts. The American looks like a better all-rounder despite her young age with a much higher ceiling of abilities, however Arango's road to the final and much less time spent on the court should work in her favor.
WTA 250 Sao Paulo - Tjen vs. Rakotomanga Rajaonah
The Indonesian is on the best path to finally translate her storming form on the ITF level into her career's maiden title on the WTA. Janice Tjen has an extraordinary record of 58 victories in 66 matches on hard courts at all levels of competition, however her transition to the WTA is going great as well - the semifinal's victory over 6th seed Francesca Jones was her 5th victory in the last 9 matches played including the advance into the main draw of the US Open. Tjen is yet to lose a set in Sao Paulo this week, dispatching three seeded players - before defeating the Brit in semis, she also recorded victories over 8th seed Leolia Jeanjean in the first round, and 3rd seed Alexandra Eala in one of the hit matches of the whole tournament in the quarters. The Indonesian will break into the top 100 of WTA rankings for the first time in her career in the case of an eventual win on Sunday.
Rakotomanga Rajaonah is probably the most sensational out of all finalists this week. The 19-year-old French has already secured the advance into the top 150 of rankings, being listed 214th before the tournament in Sao Paulo. The teenager brought an upset over 5th seed Renata Zarazua rated by a pre-match odd of 3.54. She impressed by being clutch in crucial moments - winning 11 out of 16 pressure points on serve and converting 5 out of 6 break points. Tjen is the pre-match favorite due to her huge confidence with the series of victories at all levels and quite bigger experience, however the French was also outstanding this week in quite a weak field which opened chances for the career's best run.