From Seoul, South Korea, November 2018

안녕 folks and welcome to the summary of the last major tennis event of the year!

Elina Svitolina, the last champion of Singapore

WTA Finals Singapore. It was the last edition played in Singapore. Starting next year, the finals are moving to Shenzen, China. I must say that this tournament was full of great matches, I have never seen so many quality matches concetrated in only one week. My favorite, Kiki Bertens played excellent and managed to get out of the groups. So proud of her!

The 2018 finals featured five major champions and one finalist. The competitors were divided into two groups, representing the colors of the flag of Singapore.  Following there is a table with the final standings of the two groups. Stephens and Svitolina were unbeaten in the group stage, which kind of predicted who will be in the finals. However, it was harder than everybody had thought.

In the semifinals Svitolina met Bertens and she needed 3 sets to be able to defeat the Dutch, and reach her first final at this tournament. Stephens didn't have an easy match either with Pliskova. She lost the first set 0 to 6, and everybody thought she is was out of the competition. But the Roland Garros runner-up showed why she deserves to be among the best of best. She crushed Pliskova in the following two sets, and reached the final of her first Singapore tournament. 

For the first time since the current round robin format was reintroduced in 2003, the first two matches played in each group were all won by the lower-ranked player. It also the first time that the top four seeds were eliminated in the round robin stage (group stage), leaving the fifth to eighth seeds to qualify for the semifinals.

SEEDS 

In paranthesis -  the stage the player left the competition

GROUP STAGE 

SEMIFINALS

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THE FINAL

It was the first WTA final for both players, with Svitolina at her third participation and Stephens at her first. Svitolina lost the first set, but managed to comeback and become the first player of her country who lifts the Billie Jean trophy.

FINAL HIGHLIGHTS (VIDEO) 

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wtatennis.com

wikipedia.com

From Seoul, South Korea, October 2018

WTA FINALS, SINGAPORE

ABOUT

The 2018 WTA Finals is a women's tennistournament held in Kallang, Singapore. It is the 48th edition of the singles event and the 43rd edition of the doubles competition. The tournament is contested by eight singles players and eight doubles teams. This is also the final year for Singapore to hold this tournament.

FORMAT AND POINTS

The eight qualified players are divided into two groups, the red group and the white group. According to the points won in the groups, the players in each group will be ranked from 1 to 4. Players ranked on the first two positions will go into the semifinals. First place from one group will play second place from the other group and viceversa. 

The point system of this tournament is a bit complicated, but I'll try to explain it here.

For every match lost in the group stage +125 points

For every match won in the group stage +250 points

For semifinals +0 points (no points)

For runner-up + 330 points (added to those won in the group stage)

For the champion +750 points (added to those won in the group stage)

PARTICIPANTS AND DATES OF QUALIFICATION

Simona Halep was the first to qualify to the tournament, but unfortunately her lower back injury forced her to withdraw. Her place was taken by the world No 9, Kiki Bertens. I hope Kiki will have a good tournament! An feel very sorry for Simona. She got in top 8 for the first time in 2014, and she never missed the WTA Finals qualification. It is a shame she cannot play now, in spite of being the year-end number one. 

Now here is a picture of last year's participants. Below it, a picture with this year's participants. 4 of the players who qualified last year, managed to stay in top 8 and qualify this year, too. They are Halep, Wozniacki, Svitolina and Pliskova. 

2017 Singapore Finals Participants: Garcia, Williams, Svitolina, Pliskova, Ostapenko, Muguruza, Wozniacki, Halep. If you want to read the story of last year's tournemant go here.

2018 Singapore Finals Participants: Bertens, Pliskova, Svitolina, Kvitova, Wozniacki, Kerber, Stephens, and Osaka.

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GALLERY OF THE CHAMPIONS

2017 WINNER: Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) defeated Venus Williams (USA)

FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

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2016 WINNER: Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) defeated Agelique Kerber (Germany)

FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

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2015 WINNER: Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) defeated Petra Kvitova (Czech Rep)

FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

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2014 WINNER:  Serena Williams (USA) defeated Simona Halep (Romania)

FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

wtatennis.com

wikipedia.com

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