2019 China Open (Beijing) - WTA Premier Mandatory Thread

[Dolgopolov85]

I'm aware that nagging me with minutia is one of your favourite pastimes here, and that you can hardly resist a chance to find a problem/controversy where there is none to be found, but could you perhaps - for once - try to read me without presupposing a bad intention on my part?
It would be very useful for you, because I know you dislike long posts, and perhaps then I wouldn't need to explain myself to you as if I was talking to a 5-year-old.
But here it goes:

I do not assign a moral value to being dedicated or otherwise, nor do I think people should be more dedicated to watching tennis, everyone has their preference(s) when it comes to sports, hobbies or anything else.
One thing is for sure: some people watch and follow tennis more closely than others - I would call these dedicated fans.
Not better fans, not more valuable fans, just more dedicated.
And yes, I think those fans will be most likely to remember this match because they follow the sport more closely than a casual fan, who will most likely only take notice when they meet in Slam semifinals or finals.
You willingly "misunderstand" me because you don't like me - I get it.
We all get it.

Now go bother someone else.

Don't worry about that poster. This was obviously an important match and both players seemed to feel the pressure. Round 1 to Osaka. Andreescu's inexperience and tendency to go on walkabouts caught up with her. Well, better here than at a grand slam. Bencic -Andreescu at the USO was a similar match in terms of pressure. Very high quality though decided in straight sets.

 

[zvelf]

Osaka-Andreescu was a fantastic match and hopefully there are many more to come as they may well become the biggest rivalry the next few years in the women's game.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Osaka-Andreescu was a fantastic match and hopefully there are many more to come as they may well become the biggest rivalry the next few years in the women's game.

All the rest might be glad that Osaka and Bianca are not seasoned yet for clay and grass.
Then we have Barty. These 3 might dominate the Hard Court.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Bertens Barty turned out pretty good match.

 

[JJGUY]

Barty's drop shot scares me! I don't think it works well for her, she rarely got any free points from that. Why keep trying?

 

[JJGUY]

wow, that TB, what a thriller!

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Barty's drop shot scares me! I don't think it works well for her, she rarely got any free points from that. Why keep trying?

Throughout the match Bertens giving back all Barty's slices with more slice. Love it. I thought she's winning before I turn away but Barty edges it seems.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Khachanov could've finish in 2! Probably can't watch Naomi again ugh.

 

[spystud]

6-4, 2-1 Naomi over Caro now. TC in America.

 

[spystud]

4 & 2 for Naomi.

Gets Ash in the final.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Finally we get Barty - Osaka.

 

[spystud]

Ostapenko/Yastremska v. Kenin/BMS for the doubles title.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

If Barty win, she secure YE #1

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Crazy that even with the title, Osaka would still only rise to #3 despite holding a slam, premier title and potentially a Premier Mandatory title.

Pliskova meanwhile will still be at number 2 without a slam final. 3 premier titles and a Premier 5 title though, she’s taken a Wozniacki masterclass in majoring in minors.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Some more fun fact:

Svitolina has 0 final this year!

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1180739232194678784

 

[Harry_Wild]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1180739232194678784

Nice win too!

 

[Moose Malloy]

Odds for final
Osaka -161
Barty +141

 

[JJGUY]

In less than 17 hours, Kennin and Yastremska will have to be on court again for singles match at WTA Tianjin. The good thing is Tianjin is really close to Beijing, 30 mins travel with high speed train or 1.5 hours with taxi.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1180739232194678784

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Barty playing so well. Can’t believe so many tipped against her. And the betting odds yikes..

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Barty takes the first set 6-3!!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Crazily, Barty won just 6 points on Osaka’s serve, all 6 were in the one service game where she broke Osaka. Naomi held to love in every other service game..

 

[JJGUY]

OMG, anything you can do , I can do better! that last game from Barty to close the first set, unbelievable!

 

[JJGUY]

Crazily, Barty won just 6 points on Osaka’s serve, all 6 were in the one service game where she broke Osaka. Naomi held to love in every other service game..

lol true, but Barty served the set out with a love game (her only one), not just that, 3 aces in a row, shut the door completely, not a single chance for Osaka.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Barty saves break point with some great play and serving.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Barty hits it out and we’re going 3.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Osaka is getting tight, BP Barty

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Djokosmash from Barty.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Nice hold by Ash but it might be too late.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Osaka serving for it.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Barty is falling apart.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Wow what a match point save by Barty. It's too late but damn, that's why she's #1.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Naomi Osaka continues her great Asian swing and she wins the title in Beijing, knocking out the #1 Barty.

10 match winning streak.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Lol, Osaka is on 10 match winning streaks after Jermaine Jenkins gone....

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Premier Mandatory Winners:

Serena: 6 (Missing IW)
Azarenka: 6 (Missing Madrid)
Kvitova: 3
Radwanska: 3
Sharapova: 3
Halep: 3
Wozniacki: 3
Osaka: 2

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Lol, Osaka is on 10 match winning streaks after Jermaine Jenkins gone....

Where all those comments from people saying she was trigger happy to sack her original coach and now this one. Sometimes things don't feel right and work out.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Did they forget to interview Barty or ceremony speech?

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Where all those comments from people saying she was trigger happy to sack her original coach and now this one. Sometimes things don't feel right and work out.

I really hate people gave credit too much to Sacha. Where is Mladenovic now? lol.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

2019 WTA Biggest Titles:

Slams:
AO: Osaka
RG: Barty
W: Halep
USO: Andreescu

Premier Mandatory:
Indian Wells: Andreescu
Miami: Barty
Madrid: Bertens
Beijing: Osaka

Premier 5:
Dubai: Bencic
Rome: Pliskova
Toronto: Andreescu
Cincinnati: Keys
Wuhan: Sabalenka

WTA Finals: ?

3 for Andreescu
2 for Osaka and Barty
1 for Halep, Bertens, Bencic, Pliskova, Keys and Sabalenka

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

With this result only Pliskova and Osaka can snatch YE #1.

Barty needs to win 2 match to securer YE #1

I really hope they did not put Barty, Osaka and Andreescu in the same group.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

What a tournament by Naomi.
I'm really excited to see how the Barty-Andreescu-Osaka trivalry (I guess I just invented a word) will develop in the future.
Three great young players, and three players I happen to really like.
A good moment for the WTA, I hope they can keep it up.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Where all those comments from people saying she was trigger happy to sack her original coach and now this one. Sometimes things don't feel right and work out.

I will be first to admit I was too quick to criticise her.
I'm usually more patient, but I was so invested in her progress and so looking forward to her dominating, that I made a premature and precipitated judgement.
Mea culpa.

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1180829825985957888

 

[ALEXT]

With this result only Pliskova and Osaka can snatch YE #1.

Barty needs to win 2 match to securer YE #1

I really hope they did not put Barty, Osaka and Andreescu in the same group.

As it stands right now, assuming Pliskova and Osaka don't play Moscow in the end, and Barty shows up for all 3 RR matches at the Finals, she will be YE#1 regardless what happens. She is guaranteed 375 points from RR, win or lose, which will put her 1500+ ahead of both.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

As it stands right now, assuming Pliskova and Osaka don't play Moscow in the end, and Barty shows up for all 3 RR matches at the Finals, she will be YE#1 regardless what happens. She is guaranteed 375 points from RR, win or lose, which will put her 1500+ ahead of both.

Really? my calc was off then.

Not really. All 3RR match if she lost everything only 210. A win is 160. 1W + 2L is 300, 2W 1L is 390.

Barty is 6476
Pliskova is 5315 (-339 if she win it all)
Osaka 5246 (-270 if she win it all)

 

[skyline]

Naomi is back, like the rational among us knew she would be.

 

[ALEXT]

Really? my calc was off then.

Not really. All 3RR match if she lost everything only 210. A win is 160. 1W + 2L is 300, 2W 1L is 390.

Barty is 6476
Pliskova is 5315 (-339 if she win it all)
Osaka 5246 (-270 if she win it all)

Did the points allocation change for this year's Finals? Last year and the years before, for the RR matches it was 125 points for loss, 250 for win. If that's the case I stand corrected and then yes, Pliskova and Osaka still have a theoretical shot at YE#1.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Did the points allocation change for this year's Finals? Last year and the years before, for the RR matches it was 125 points for loss, 250 for win. If that's the case I stand corrected and then yes, Pliskova and Osaka still have a theoretical shot at YE#1.

I based on Wiki, it's 70 points per loss.

 

[ALEXT]

I based on Wiki, it's 70 points per loss.

I saw that afterwards so you are right, not done deal yet but still most likely Barty will be YE#1.

On a side note, reducing the number of points for RR loss makes sense. Getting 375 points for just playing 3 matches it was way too much. It should be 0 points for a loss IMO.

 

[spystud]

Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka says she intends to represent Japan at next year's Tokyo Olympics.

Osaka, who plays under a Japanese flag in WTA events and the Fed Cup, told national broadcaster NHK that she has started proceedings to choose Japanese citizenship.

She holds dual nationality with Japan and the United States. She was born to a mother from Japan and a father from Haiti.

Osaka turns 22 on Wednesday, the age at which Japanese law obliges dual-nationality citizens to choose one.