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From Seoul, South Korea, October 2017


안녕 folks!


Caroline Wozniacki with the trophy




WTA Finals Singapore. The competition reuniting the best 8 players in women’s tennis. It is the last competition of the year, and the most important after the 4 Grand Slams. This year the best world 8 competed against each other in 2 groups, and indeed, each game was worth watching! When the best 8 play among themselves each game is like a final.


 Group standings, semifinals, final & points and prize won. Interesting fact: the participation fee of $ 151 000 is deducted from the prize, so players who did not make it to the final or at least the semifinals, perhaps won't sleep well until the next season begins. :D






Danish player Caroline Wozniacki triumphed over veteran Venus Williams in the final game in Singapore, a game which ended 6-4 6-4. The second set saw Caroline almost winner as she was leading with 5 games to zero, but as champion that she is, Venus made an unforgettable comeback winning 4 games in a row. Caroline however, was strong enough not to be intimidated, ending up with the trophy, and the money of course. Moreover, she climbed 3 positions in the year-end rankings, from no 6 to no 3. 



Caroline reached the fisrt WTA position only once before, between October 2010 and February 2011. She has never won a Grand Slam tournament, which makes this Singapore trophy the most important for her so far.


You can see the higlights of the game here: youtube link Don't miss the second set! It was epic! 



Incredible Venus, at 37 years old



The most important title in Wozniacki's career. She has never won a Grand Slam. 

But she nailed this final.




THE OTHER STORY, YEAR-END NO 1 IN WOMEN'S TENNIS: SIMONA HALEP. 

THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF ROMANIAN TENNIS EVER

 

Halep was not able to reach the semifinals. She won her first group game against French Caroline Garcia, but lost to Wozniacki and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina. As the only player who could threaten her no 1 position, Czech Karolina Pliskova lost in the semifinals, she managed to remain the leader in the WTA standings. And she will stay there until the next season begins. 

 Simona said she stills feels very sad for the French Open final she lost last summer, but as one of her goals for 2017 was to be No 1, she ends the year in a positive note. Her game started to improve lately, and it seems that her biggest problem, the mental part, is not as disturbing as it used to be. 

Watch the awarding ceremony here: click




One of the most consistent WTA players, finally gets there. But no Grand Slam yet... 






AND YET ANOTHER STORY, CAROLINE GARCIA: THE RISING STAR


Another Caroline, Garcia, was the last to qualify for this year’s finals. WTA No 8, was, personally, my favourite player of this tournament. Very strong mentally and with a powerful attack style game, she put in trouble all the other players she met here. She even beat Wozniacki in the groups. I am looking forward to see her rising even more next year.






FINALLY, FAN BATTLE :D


Nothing gets more fun on facebook these days than following fans fight over the new world's number 1. From people lamenting there is no one single dominant player in women's tennis, to people arguing one does not need a Grand Slam to be a champion. Consistency or fame? What would you choose?


An article analyzing this particular topic here: click





FINAL STANDINGS OF 2017 IN WTA




Sources:


wtatennis.com

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2017/10/tough-call-will-any-wta-player-win-more-one-major-2018/70159/

http://www.hindustantimes.com





:
Posted by me-wanderer


From Seoul, South Korea, October 2017


안녕 folks!


     



Simona Halep's way to her first WTA number 1 ranking was halted several times in the months before China Open (30 Sept- 8 Oct, 2017). The Roland Garros final loss to Jelena Ostapenko and the elimination from US Open by Maria Sharapova in the first round, were not easy to deal with psychologically. 










In an interview for a Romanian TV channel she stated the Roland Garros final haunted her dreams for days after the game. Aggressive player Ostapenko is not an easy opponent these days in the WTA tournaments. 






On the other side, Halep lost all her previous games to Sharapova, seven in number, a situation that led some to say she had developed a Sharapova complex. However, Halep denied such a thing, still admitting that it was one of her biggest wishes to beat the Russian.



<Previous meetings, before Beijing 2017>




     China Open will remain a tournament to remember for Simona Halep. 



<Petra Kvitova, Caroline Garcia, Jelena Ostapenko, Simona Halep>



She obtained her first victory in two sets against the 'unbeatable Russian': 6-2, 6-2.



     

     


     



She took revenge for the Roland Garros final, becoming WTA No 1, after the semifinal against Ostapenko: 6-2, 6-4.






Yet Simona is getting a lot of criticism from fans all over the world who say that a No 1 without a Grand Slam is not a real No 1. Regarding this, only time will tell the truth. 









Sources:


TVR1 interview with Simona Halep, in Romanian:




Pictures:

https://www.facebook.com/WTA/?ref=br_rs

http://www.wtatennis.com/



Watch:


2017 China Open 3rd Round against Maria Sharapova, highlights:

https://youtu.be/3oYXBWw_RR8




2017 China Open semi-final against Jelena Ostapenko, highlights:

https://youtu.be/gUt8s9lIVRk



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Posted by me-wanderer