From Seoul,  South Korea, March 2019

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WTA 2019 Week 10&11 Tournaments - 여자테니스 2019년 제10&11주의 대회

1.  Miami Open - Florida, United States

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1. Miami Open - Florida, USA (마이애미 오픈 )

Level / 수준: WTA Premier Mandatory

Dates / 날짜: Mar 19 - Mar 30 (2019)

Surface / 표면: Hard Court / 하드코트

Total prize / 총 상금: $ 9,035,428

Singles Draw Size / 싱글 드로 사이즈: 128

2018 Finalists / 2018 결승전 출전자: S. Stephens def J. Ostapenko 7-6, 6-1

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Points / 포인트:

Tournament Level / 대회 수준: WTA Premier Mandatory

Winner / 우승자: 1000

Finalist / 2위: 650

Semifinalists / 준결승전: 390

Quarter-finalists / 준준결승: 215

Round of 16 / 16강전: 120

Round of 32 / 32강전: 65

Round of 64 / 64강전: 35

Round of 128 / 128강전: 10

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Seeds / 시드:

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The Final /  결승전: 

Asleigh Barty (Australia/호주) def.  Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic/체코) 7-6 (7-1), 6-3

Final Highlights / 하일라이트 동영상:

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2018 Winner / 2018 우승자:

Sloane Stephens (USA) def. Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) 

2018 Final Highlights / 2018 결승전 하일라이트 동영상:

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2017 Winner / 2017 우승자:

Johanna Konta (right, Great Britain) def. Caroline Wozniaki (Denmark) 

2016 Winner / 2016 우승자:

Victoria Azarenka (right, Belarus) def. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 

2015 Winner / 2015 우승자:

Serena Williams (right, USA) def. Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) 

2014 Winner / 2014 우승자:

Serena Williams (right, USA) def. Li Na (China) 

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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