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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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

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From Seoul, South Korea, October 2018

1. KREMLIN CUP, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

ABOUT

The 2018 Kremlin Cup (also known as the 2018 VTB Kremlin Cup for sponsorship reasons) is a tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts. It is the 29th edition of the Kremlin Cup for the men and the 23nd edition for the women. The tournament is part of the ATP World Tour 250 Series of the 2018 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier Series of the 2018 WTA Tour. It is held at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia, from 15 October through 21 October 2018.

POINTS

Winner - 470 / Runner-up - 305 / Semifinalists - 185 / Quarter-finalists - 100 /

Round of 16 - 55 / Round of 32 - 1

SEEDS

Kiki Bertens and Karolina Pliskova are fighting for a place in the Singapore Finals. See a live ranking of the players at the end of this post. Unfortunately Simona Halep announced that she is withdrawing from the Kremlin Cup, as her lower back issues continue to bother her. 

FINALISTS

Daria Kasatkina (Russia) defeated Ons Jabeur (Tunisia), score 2-6, 7(7)-6(3), 6-4. She lost the first set and when she was almost losing the second one too, with Jabeur leading 4 to 1, her coach came on court and told her that she has to go, serve and if it has to lose, to lose like a champion. Coaching was effective, Daria came back and pushed the set in tiebreak.  And then, she played extraoridarily in the third set, with the fans on her side, cheering at every point. Jabeur's leg injury may have helped, but in the end Daria ended it like a champon. Congratulations!

 WINNER 

Daria Kasatkina (Russia)

FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

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2017 WINNER: Julia Gorges (Germany, left) defeated Daria Kasatkina (Russia)

2017 WINNER: Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia, right) defeated Daria Gavrilova (Australia)

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2013 WINNER: Simona Halep (Romania, right) defeated Samantha Stosur (Australia)

2. LUXEMBOURG OPEN

ABOUT

The 2018 BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open is a women's tennis tournament to be played on indoor hard courts sponsored by BNP Paribas. It is the 28th edition of the Luxembourg Open, and part of the WTA International tournaments category of the 2018 WTA Tour. It is being held in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg from 15 to 20 October 2018.

POINTS

Winner - 280 / Runner-up - 180 / Semifinalists - 110 / Quarter-finalists - 60

Round of 16 - 30 / Round of 32 - 1

SEEDS

FINALISTS

Julia Goerges (Germany) defeated Belinda Bencic (Switzerland), score 6-4, 7-5

 WINNER 

Julia Goerges (Germany)

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2017 WINNER:  Carina Witthoft (Germany, centre left) defeated Monica Puig (Porto Rico)

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>>>> PREVIEW RACE TO SINGAPORE<<<<

STANDINGS BEFORE THE MOSCOW KREMLIN CUP:

Only the first 8 players go to the Singapore Finals. So far, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki, Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova are qualified, and the WTA website announces Sloane Stephens has qualified too. Among Elina Svitolina, Karolina Pliskova and Kiki Bertens, who do you think will miss the qualification? Personally I like a lot all these players, but I have only seen Bertens on court, I saw her amazing game in Seoul, so I really hope she can make it! Good luck!

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From Seoul, South Korea, September 2018

1. Korea Open, Seoul, South Korea

ABOUT

The 2018 Korea Open is a women's professional tennis tournament to be played on hard courts. It is be the 15th edition of the tournament, and part of the 2018 WTA Tour. It takes place in Seoul, South Korea between 17 and 23 September 2018.

So happy to have arrived at the Korea Open week! I was there in spite of rain to cheer for the Romanian players, Irina Begu and Raluca Olaru. Begu lost to Sakkari in the quarter-finals, and in the doubles matches Begu and Olaru lost to the Taiwanese pair Hsieh/Hsieh.

POINTS

Winner - 280 / Runner-up - 180 / Semifinalists - 110 / Quarter-finalists - 60 /

Round of 16 - 30 / Round of 32 - 1

SEEDS

<He he! Someone caught me on camera and sent me this pic! >

MY PICS FROM THE EVENT

FINALISTS

Kiki Bertens (Netherlands) defeated Ajla Tomljanovic (Australia), score 7(7)-6(2), 4-6, 6-2

 WINNER 

Kiki Bertens (Netherlands)

FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

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2017 WINNER: Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia)

2017 Final Highlights

2016 WINNER: Irina Camelia Begu (Romania)

2. Toray Pan Pacific Open, Tokyo, Japan

ABOUT

The 2018 Toray Pan Pacific Open is a women's tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts. It is be the 35th edition of the Pan Pacific Open, and part of the Premier Series of the 2018 WTA Tour. It takes place at the Arena Tachikawa Tachihi in Tokyo, Japan, on 17–23 September 2018.

POINTS

Winner - 470 / Runner-up - 305 / Semifinalists - 185 / Quarter-finalists - 100 /

Round of 16 - 55 / Round of 32 - 1

SEEDS

FINALISTS

Naomi Osaka (Japan) was defeated by Karolina Pliskova ( Czech Republic), score 6-4 6-4

 WINNER 

Karolina Pliskova ( Czech Republic)

FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

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2017 WINNER: Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

2017 Final Highlights

3. Guangzhou Open, China

ABOUT

The 2018 Guangzhou International Women's Open is a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It iss the 15th edition of the Guangzhou International Women's Open, and part of the WTA International tournaments of the 2018 WTA Tour. It takes place in Guangzhou, China, from September 17 through September 22, 2018.

POINTS

Winner - 280 / Runner-up - 180 / Semifinalists - 110 / Quarter-finalists - 60 /

Round of 16 - 30 / Round of 32 - 1

FINALISTS

Wang Qiang (China) defeated Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan, photo), score 6-1 6-2

 WINNER 

Wang Qiang (China)

FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

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2017 WINNER: Zhang Shuai (China)

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wikipedia.com

From Seoul, South Korea, August 2018

Western and Southern Open, Cincinnati (Ohio), USA

ABOUT

The 2018 Western & Southern Open is a men's and women's tennis tournament currently being played on outdoor hard courts from August 13–19, 2018. It is a Masters 1000 tournament on the 2018 ATP World Tour and a WTA Premier 5 tournament on the 2018 WTA Tour.^[1][2] The tournament is one of two headline events in the 2018 US Open Series. The 2018 tournament is the 117th men's edition and the 90th women's edition of the Cincinnati Masters and takes place at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, a northern suburb of Cincinnati, in the United States.

POINT SYSTEM

Winner - 900

Runner-up - 585

Semifinalists - 350

Quarter-finalists - 190

Round of 16 - 105

Round of 32 - 60

Round of 64 - 1

SEEDS

FINALISTS

Simona Halep (Romania) and Kiki Bertens (Netherlands)

Simona Halep played her consecutive final at a Premier 5 tournament. It was a tough tournament, with rainy days and delayed mathches. Simona had to play 2 matches in one day, in the same way she did a week earlier when she won the title in Montreal.

Score:  6-2 , 6(6)-7(8) , 2-6

 WINNER 

Kiki Bertens (Netherlands)

FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

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2017 WINNER: Garbine Muguruza (right, Spain)

2017 Final Highlights

2016 WINNER: Karolina Pliskova (right, Czech Republic)

2015 WINNER: Serena Williams (right, USA)

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