2015 WTA Finals

[Aussie Darcy]

So the year end championships are here.
Some will say they are more boring without Serena Williams playing, others might say it gives players the opportunity to break through the ranks.
Let's take a look at who's playing;

Singles:

Simona Halep. Breakthrough star of 2014. Had a mixed 2015. Started the year with a title in Shenzhen, went on to reach the QF of the Australian open. Won a Premier 5 tournament in Dubai in February and in March followed this up by winning the Premier Mandatory Indian Wells. Reached the SF in Madrid, Rome, Stuttgart. But several early losses including 2nd round French Open, 1R Wimbledon, Madrid 1R. Finished the year well (sort of). Reached the final in Toronto and Cincinnati (both Premier 5). Semi final at US Open. Early losses in Wuhan, Guanghzou and Beijing.

Garbine Muguruza. Started with a QF in Sydney. 4R Aus Open. Semifinal in Dubai. Early losses in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart, Marrakech, Madird. QF at the French. Stunned all by reaching the final of Wimbledon. More early losses in Toronto, Cincinnati, US Open, Tokyo. Finished the year amazingly. Reached the final at Premier 5 Wuhan but retired. Then won Premier Mandatory Beijing.

Maria Sharapova. Started great! Won Brisbane, reached the final of the Aus Open. 4R loss Indian Wells. Early losses in Miami and Stuttgart. Semifinal in Madrid. Won Premier 5 Rome. 4R loss at French Open (she was the defending champ). Semifinalist at Wimbledon. Has been injured pretty much since Wimbledon, only played Wuhan where she retired.

Petra Kvitova. SF in Shenzhen, won Sydney. 3R loss at Aus Open. Early losses in Dubai, Doha, Stuttgart. Injured for Indian Wells and Miami. Won the Premier Mandatory Madrid which included defeating Serena. QF in Rome, 4R French Open, 3R Wimbledon (she was the defending champion). Early losses in Toronto and Cincinnati. Won New Haven. QF US Open. Early losse in Wuhan and Beijing.

Aga Radwanska. 4R Aus Open. Early losses in numerous tournaments. SF in the small Internationals Katowicze and Nottignham. 1R loss French Open. Finalist at the Premier Eastbourne. Semifinals Wimbledon. More early losses. 3R US Open. Won the premier Tokyo event and reached the SF in Beijing.

Angelique Kerber. QF Brisbane, SF Sydney. 1R Aus Open. Numerous early losses. Champion at Premier Charleston. Champion at Premier Stuttgart. 3R French Open. Champion Premier Birmingham. 3R Wimbledon. Champion Premier Stanford. 3R US Open. Early losses. SF Wuhan, QF Beijing

Flavia Pennetta. 1R loss Sydney, 1R loss Aus Open. QF Dubai. QF Indian Wells. 4R Miami. Numerous early losses. 4R French Open. 1R Wimbledon. More early losses. Stunned the world by winning the US Open. 3R Beijing.

Lucie Safarova. 1R loss Sydney, 1R Aus Open. QF Dubai, Premier champion in Doha. Many early losses. QF Madrid. Finalist French Open. 4R Wimbledon. QF Cincinnati. Finalist at Premier New Haven. 1R US Open. Been sick/injured since then.

Well that took a while. So discuss who you think will win!

Doubles team:

Hingis/Mirza. Stellar year. A whopping 9 titles and an additional runner up. Titles including Wimbledon and US Open.

Mattek Sands/Safarova. 4 titles out of only 8 tournaments entered. Titles include Australian Open and French Open.

Babos/Mladenovic. 3 titles. 2 of which were Premier 5 (Rome and Dubai). SF at Wimbledon.

Garcia/Srebotnik. 1 title. Premier Aegon International. 2 runner ups at Premier level, 1 runner up Premier 5.

Chan/Chan. 4 titles. Premier 5 Western and Southern Open. Final Premier Mandatory China Open. QF US Open.

Kops Jones/Spears. 3 titles. Premier title in Doha. SF at Wimbledon. QF Australian Open.

Hlavackova/Hradecka. 0 titles. SF French Open, Miami and Wuhan. 3 finals including Aegon Classic.

Suarez Navarro/Muguruza. 2 titles. Premier titles in Tokyo and at the Aegon Classic.


Both Garbine Muguruza and Lucie Safarova are playing both singles and doubles! Impressive!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

The draw is out.

Halep, Sharapova, Radwanska and Pennetta in the Red Group
Muguruza, Kvitova, Kerber and Safarova in the White Group.

 

[Pagoo]

I'm rooting for Kvitova. Will be happy for anyone in the White group except Kerber.

 

[Brian11785]

I tend to think Kvitova is the favorite for any indoor hardcourt event that Serena isn't playing. Muguruza being the next.

Would love to see Kerber or Aga make it out of their groups. Don't see it happening with the former, but the latter has a good shot. No telling what is going to happen with Maria or Halep. I'm sort of hoping one pulls out and Venus can step in. In she secures a spot, I think Venus'd be a shoo-in to advance.

 

[tennisaddict]

I think Kerber has this.

 

[Noleberic123]

Hopefully Radwanska

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Added info on the doubles teams!

 

[Pagoo]

I think Kerber has this.

Please, no!

 

[boredone3456]

How I see it

Halep could win this if she can replicate her form from last year. However she drew Pennetta who beat her at the open, Radwanska who is dangerous indoors, and sharapova who is a giant question mark being sidelined with an injury for months essentially. She's in potentially the tougher group and will have to raise her game.

Sharapova is a huge questionmark. She's been injured. If she finds her A game with no Serena this is probably hers to lose, but if she's not ready she's in trouble.

Kerber, I don't love her but she has quietly had a solid year, albeit pretty much at small tournaments. Let's see how she handles the big stage.

Muguruza, I'm shocked. I didn't see her being where she is now when she made the wimbledon final. She's fought tooth and nail to get here and is the first Spaniards since Vicario like 15 years ago to make the YEC. She's got pressure on her to deliver from her rank and her favorable draw.

Kvitova is a dark horse favorite. She's solid when on but so unpredictable betting her to win is risky. But she's a past winner here and after Sharapova has arguably the best pedigree of the competitors.

Pennetta is 1 of 2 of my sentimental favorites. Love this lady. She stunned the world at flushing and is retiring at the end of the year. With no Serena and Sharapova questionable, can she make a Cinderella run again? I like her chances, I don't think she'll beat Halep twice but Radwanska is 50/50 and if sharapova is weak...anything can happen.

Safarova is my other sentimental favorite...love the lefty. She was a fighter at the French and if she can find that fight here...look out.

Honestly it's anyone's game...I'd say Halep group is more stacked with heavy hitters with the exception of kvitova. If kvitova stays in control she may be the favorite with the easier robin and a possibly favorable SF if Sharapova plays horrible and Halep wins her section....

Let the rumble begin

 

[boredone3456]

As for the doubles....

I'm pulling for Kops-Jones and Spears but that's not realistic.

I think it's Hingis and Mirza's to lose. They have been to good all year. Maybe Bethanie and Lucie can stop them but I don't see it.

 

[spystud]

Lucie/BMS v. Garbine/CSN starting now on TC.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Lucie/BMS v. Garbine/CSN starting now on TC.

Good match so far. Mattek Sands/Safarova great doubles team. Muguruza always fun to watch. CSN I don't care for

 

[elkwood]

Good match so far. Mattek Sands/Safarova great doubles team. Muguruza always fun to watch. CSN I don't care for

Yea its been a good match so far.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

BMS/Safarova take the first. And win me some money.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

This is a fantastic match guys!!

 

[spystud]

Lucie/BMS open with a W.

 

[PDJ]

I really want Hingis/Mirza to win.
Less interested in the singles but I'd like Radwanska, Safarova and Pennetta to do well.
But basically any one but Kerber.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I really want Hingis/Mirza to win.
Less interested in the singles but I'd like Radwanska, Safarova and Pennetta to do well.
But basically any one but Kerber.

We couldn't be more opposite
I'm assuming Hingis/Mirza will win but i'd love BMS/Safarova.
As for singles. I really want the champion to be at least a slam runner up. Think it's a shambles if our year end champion didn't even win a grand slam or reach a final. So Pennetta, Muguruza, Safarova or Sharapova. I'd be happy with Kvitova as she's a slam champ. Halep isn't too bad. Would be very unhappy if Radwanska won. Seeing as she didn't reach a slam final, a premier mandatory final or a premier 5 final. She didn't go past the 4R at any slams except Wimbledon. She only has one top 10 win for the year so it's absurd that she's playing against the top 10!!

 

[PDJ]

I really like safarova and BMS so I wdnt mind if they won but I just LOVE the way Hingis plays tennis. Such a pleasure to watch. Amazing hands. To me, a doubles genius. And what a year!
Radwanska - I like the way she plays and would really like her to win something big. Plus I'm really hoping she beats Sharapova

 

[Pagoo]

I really like safarova and BMS so I wdnt mind if they won but I just LOVE the way Hingis plays tennis. Such a pleasure to watch. Amazing hands. To me, a doubles genius. And what a year!
Radwanska - I like the way she plays and would really like her to win something big. Plus I'm really hoping she beats Sharapova

I don't mind Sania, but I don't like Hingis. I just don't like the whole sneaky thing, hanging around the tour, pretending she was coaching and then coming back as a player.
Probably, makes no sense, but I don't like her coming back and winning everyone.

Rooting for BMS/Safarova.

 

[Pagoo]

Halep hammering Pennetta. She has been poor since after the US open. I guess she just wanted to end her career in Singapore.

 

[Pagoo]

Sure, let's start the finals with a bagel.

Pennetta's serve is abysmal.

 

[JJGUY]

Pennetta has lost her game and her confidence ever since she won that USO, she should have retired a month ago.

 

[JJGUY]

Pennetta finally won a game

 

[Mike Bulgakov]

I haven't heard any reports on how Sharapova is practicing, but I think she will find a way to win. I would like to see Safarova and BMS win the doubles, and either Safarova or Kvitova win the singles.

 

[PDJ]

I don't mind Sania, but I don't like Hingis. I just don't like the whole sneaky thing, hanging around the tour, pretending she was coaching and then coming back as a player.
Probably, makes no sense, but I don't like her coming back and winning everyone.

Rooting for BMS/Safarova.

I would say it made more sense for her to come back once she was coaching as it probably made it clear to her that she was as good, if not better, than most of the current crop at doubles. And her results testify that.
I just like so see variety and intelligence on a tennis court. Hingis has that in spades.
But we can live with our difference of opinion especially when we're united in our distaste for Kerber

 

[Pagoo]

Damn, should have picked Halep in SDL. I knew Pennetta was in bad form.

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

Damn, should have picked Halep in SDL. I knew Pennetta was in bad form.

Pennetta is basically this year's Cilic. She isn't all of a sudden a top player because she won the US Open. People really shouldn't have such high expectations of her. She isn't in bad form, this is her normal game. She's probably the runt of the litter among the eight at Singapore.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

We might see this two together:

Tignor's prediction, FWIW:
Semifinals: Halep d. Kerber; Pennetta d. Kvitova
Final: Halep d. Pennetta

 

[Aussie Darcy]

We might see this two together:

Tignor's prediction, FWIW:
Semifinals: Halep d. Kerber; Pennetta d. Kvitova
Final: Halep d. Pennetta

How in gods names will Pennetta reach the final? She's going to get crushed for the remainder of the tournament. And no Muguruza?? They're expecting Muguruza to come either 3rd or 4th? Strange...

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Also this is looking so bad for the WTA. They signed that stupid elite trophy until 2019. Players have expressed their dismay for it. Ivanovic has said she might give it a miss. Makarova and Azarenka have withdrawn with injury. Wozniacki says she isn't motivated to play. What a shambles
Edit:
Apparently confirmed so far is;
Pliskova
Bencic
Vinci
Ivanovic
Wozniacki
Errani
Keys
Svitolina
Jankovic

 

[70後]

at 30-0 on Radwanska's serve, Pova chip and charged to get into the net. She won the point. Never seen this from her. Then again, it is against the Radwanska serve, so..

 

[D-Lite]

Also this is looking so bad for the WTA. They signed that stupid elite trophy until 2019. Players have expressed their dismay for it. Ivanovic has said she might give it a miss. Makarova and Azarenka have withdrawn with injury. Wozniacki says she isn't motivated to play. What a shambles
Edit:
Apparently confirmed so far is;
Pliskova
Bencic
Vinci
Ivanovic
Wozniacki
Errani
Keys
Svitolina
Jankovic

By the look of Ivanovic's last Facebook update, she's insinuated that she won't be playing in Zhuhai. There's also a wildcard up for grabs, and I'm presuming that will go to a Chinese player - most likely Zheng Saisai as she's the highest ranked Chinese player at #75.

 

[JJGUY]

the linejudges are really bad at Maria/Aga match, either no call when the ball was way out, or called out when the ball hit the middle of the line, so far their performances are embarrassing.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Sharapova at 17 unforced errors and it's only 4-4 in the first. Ouch

 

[Aussie Darcy]

2 double faults in one game. She ain't gonna play this whole match.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Aga takes the first 6-4

 

[70後]

with the Radwanska/Sharapova match up I'm reminded a bit of Kerber/Azarenka. Evenly matched in most respects except for the serve which lets down the losing side of these match ups.

 

[Pagoo]

I'm team Sharapova today. Who would have thunk it?

 

[Pagoo]

Hope Sharapova breaks for the win after failing to serve it out.

 

[Pagoo]

Wow Sharapova can't close out the match from 5-2.

 

[WYK]

I'm watching the Lux game, and it's just confusing.

 

[Brian11785]

That was simply bizarre. Seems strange to say, but those last couple games were on Aga's racquet. Maria was playing to not lose, and Aga was the one mostly dictating play. Then Maria hits a lob and drop shot winner in the same game.

What kind of alternate universe is Singapore being played in?

 

[Zetty]

Well it looks like Sharapova is gonna take this tourney

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Jimmie48 Photography ‏@JJlovesTennis:

Had to walk home for 20 minutes because the MRT stops running at midnight. Paid the price for working too long...

 

[bezs]

Was at the match, thought Aga could have closed it out but not to be. Good on Masha to get a win under her belt.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Wow! Turned off after Sharapova lost the first. Glad to see she pulled through!

 

[Pagoo]

Muguruza with a third BP to go up 2-1, in the first set.

 

[Pagoo]

And she converts. 3 games 17 minutes.

 

[JJGUY]

actually it's the 4th BP, she had 3 at 0:40 but couldn't convert any.