2019 WTA Finals - Official Tournament Thread

[Aussie Darcy]

I would love to see Barty ends up winning this since her post Wimbledon and USO open was disappointing and lost to Osaka in Beijing. Kinda like I want her to justify her WTA player of the year over Bianca Andreescu.

Disappointing? Sure she didn't win a title but it's hard to complain about:
Cincy SF
Wuhan SF
Beijing Final

Her only bad result was the 2R loss in Canada to Kenin.

Oh and Andreescu also lost to Osaka in Beijing though.... So not sure why that's a big dampener on Barty's claim to Player of the Year. Hell, Halep won it last year after an abysmal end to the year which featured 4 consecutive losses (lost in her first match at the USO, Wuhan and Beijing) and then withdrew from the YEC.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Disappointing? Sure she didn't win a title but it's hard to complain about:
Cincy SF
Wuhan SF
Beijing Final

Her only bad result was the 2R loss in Canada to Kenin.

Oh and Andreescu also lost to Osaka in Beijing though.... So not sure why that's a big dampener on Barty's claim to Player of the Year. Hell, Halep won it last year after an abysmal end to the year which featured 4 consecutive losses (lost in her first match at the USO, Wuhan and Beijing) and then withdrew from the YEC.

I missed some words. I mean her post FO in majors has been disappointing (Wimbledon and USO) and didn't get the title in Beijing.

There will be people who will say Andreescu got 1 major 2 PM5+ while Barty got 1 major and 1 PM5+ which will not be the case if Barty win this tournament.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Svitolina is leading with a break in decider. Hasn't reach final since last year lol!

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Bencic retired 1-4 in deciding.

FYI: It's a good crowd. Shenzhen just working on weekdays y'all.

 

[La Grande]

Since when was Svitolina a serve bot? This is excellent news, maybe she can win a slam

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Tuned out when Elina went up 3-0 and Bencic was playing like trash but didn’t look injured. Did something happen or is she trying to save face?

Talk about a week of retirements and withdrawals.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

A Svitolina win is real bad news for Barty. Elina leads the H2H 5-0.

 

[Enceladus]

A Svitolina win is real bad news for Barty. Elina leads the H2H 5-0.

Barty hasn't made it to the final yet Karolina Pliskova managed to win 4 out of 8 mutual matches at WTA Tour over Svitolina.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Another ret.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

**** yes! Ash Barty knocks out Pliskova in 3 sets and she’s into the YEC final!

She’ll play Svitolina for the title.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Ash is going to hold that number 1 spot for quite a while. #2 Pliskova has the Brisbane title and Aus Open SF to defend while Osaka has the Aus Open title.

Halep will be the main threat but Barty will start the year with a 2000 point lead over her. Will be nice to see Barty have a good stint as #1.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

 

[fundrazer]

Not interested at all in the final, but that's just me. Feel like it will be a long one though.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Tuned out when Elina went up 3-0 and Bencic was playing like trash but didn’t look injured. Did something happen or is she trying to save face?

Talk about a week of retirements and withdrawals.

She has cramps from what the commentator said and some kinda problem with hamstring.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

You've gotta love Strycova/Hsieh.
They didn't have the power but finesse.

Rare because usually the finesse couple up with power type.

 

[PDJ]

You've gotta love Strycova/Hsieh.
They didn't have the power but finesse.

Rare because usually the finesse couple up with power type.

Hingis/Mirza being the best example in recent years of power/finesse couple.

 

[AM75]

Since when was Svitolina a serve bot? This is excellent news, maybe she can win a slam

Seems she served more aces in her match against Bencic than during the whole round robin stage, or something like that

 

[I Am Finnish]

Since when was Svitolina a serve bot? This is excellent news, maybe she can win a slam

Maybe

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Hingis/Mirza being the best example in recent years of power/finesse couple.

Hingis is always seek a partner with power. That's why I'm surprised that Barbora paired up with Su Wei because Sania, Andrea and Lucie are a power player.

 

[spystud]

Lucie’s kinda pregnant though.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Babos/Mladenovic defend their title knocking out Hsieh/Strycova 6-1 6-3.

They went undefeated all week and take home $1 million dollars.

Strycova remains #1 in the world though.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Lucie’s kinda pregnant though.

Lol I know. My point is Barbora usually pair up with power player.

Damn, missed the final. Kiki and Babos is really solid it seems. They also the one who's really consistent in Grand Slam.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

2019 Doubles:

Slams:
Mertens/Sabalenka: Indian Wells, Miami, US Open champs.
Hsieh/Strycova: Dubai, Madrid, Birmingham and Wimbledon champs
Babos/Mladenovic: French Open and WTA Finals champs
Stosur/Zhang: Aus Open champs

Premier 5/Mandatory:
Azarenka/Barty: Rome champs
Krejickova/Siniakova: Canada champs
Hradecka/Klepac: Cincy champs
Yingying/Kudermetova: Wuhan champs
Kenin/Mattek Sands: Beijing champs

Premier:
Melichar/Peschke: Brisbane, San Jose and Zhengzhoi champs.
Krunic/Siniakova: Sydney champs
Gasparyan/Makarova: St Petersburg champs
Chan/Chan: Doha, Eastbourne and Osaka champs.
Gronefeld/Rosolka: Charleston champs
Barthel/Friedsman: Stuttgart champs

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Lol I know. My point is Barbora usually pair up with power player.

Damn, missed the final. Kiki and Babos is really solid it seems. They also the one who's really consistent in Grand Slam.

The result is still gutwrenching, Stosur/Zhang were so close. Led 6-1 2-0 and then 7-3 in the 3rd set superbreaker only to lose

Babos/Mladenovic end the year as the #1 team but they 'only' won the French Open and WTA Finals. Mertens/Sabalenka meanwhile won Indian Wells, Miami and the USO. Could argue they have a better claim to team of the year. They also did well at the slams. SF at the French, QF at Wimbledon, champs at the USO.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

So what are peoples tips for the singles final between Barty/Svitolina?

I'm definitely thinking that Svitolina will win this one, has looked very good all week, dominates the H2H against Barty 5-0 and is the defending champ. Really hope i'm wrong but giving the edge to Elina.

The YEC are definitely known for their weird champions and weird SFists/Finalists in recent years.

I mean:
2018: Svitolina (hadn't won a slam or made a final or even a SF + all 4 SFists hadn't won a slam that year)
2017: Wozniacki (hadn't won a slam at that point + all 4 SFists hadn't won a slam that year)
2016: Cibulkova (this one still boggles me, Domi went 1-2 in the RR and beat 2x slam champ Kerber in the final)
2015: Radwanska (2015 was always going to be weird with 3x slam champ Serena out but Aga winning after also going 1-2 was crazy).

Out of the last 10 finalists at this event, Barty (this year) and Kerber (2016) are the only ones to have won a slam in the year they made the Final. Not really the greatest display of the years best player.

 

[PDJ]

So what are peoples tips for the singles final between Barty/Svitolina?

I'm definitely thinking that Svitolina will win this one, has looked very good all week, dominates the H2H against Barty 5-0 and is the defending champ. Really hope i'm wrong but giving the edge to Elina.

The YEC are definitely known for their weird champions and weird SFists/Finalists in recent years.

I mean:
2018: Svitolina (hadn't won a slam or made a final or even a SF + all 4 SFists hadn't won a slam that year)
2017: Wozniacki (hadn't won a slam at that point + all 4 SFists hadn't won a slam that year)
2016: Cibulkova (this one still boggles me, Domi went 1-2 in the RR and beat 2x slam champ Kerber in the final)
2015: Radwanska (2015 was always going to be weird with 3x slam champ Serena out but Aga winning after also going 1-2 was crazy).

Out of the last 10 finalists at this event, Barty (this year) and Kerber (2016) are the only ones to have won a slam in the year they made the Final. Not really the greatest display of the years best player.

I hope Barty wins as her tennis is far more interesting. I just find Svitolina so ordinary, but appears likeable.
The time zone is really against many of us. But frankly, to me, it just seems a non event.
I don't know why especially, but withdrawals/retirements don't help.
It should glean far more media globally but I've barely seen anything in the British and French press.
And, frankly, in France, they only really care about singles, and generally men's singles.
Even at my tennis if asked to name the last French player to win a singles major, 9 times out of 10 they reply with Yannick Noah! I have to remind them of Mauresmo, Pierce and Bartoli. Of whom only Mauresmo gets any respect. Pierce "Not French", and Bartoli gets the worst of it because she wasn't considered aesthetically pleasing i.e. they don't want to sleep with her! Truly.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

The result is still gutwrenching, Stosur/Zhang were so close. Led 6-1 2-0 and then 7-3 in the 3rd set superbreaker only to lose

Babos/Mladenovic end the year as the #1 team but they 'only' won the French Open and WTA Finals. Mertens/Sabalenka meanwhile won Indian Wells, Miami and the USO. Could argue they have a better claim to team of the year. They also did well at the slams. SF at the French, QF at Wimbledon, champs at the USO.

Indeed between those 2 pairs. Babos/Mlad also finalist at AO tho.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I hope Barty wins as her tennis is far more interesting. I just find Svitolina so ordinary, but appears likeable.
The time zone is really against many of us. But frankly, to me, it just seems a non event.
I don't know why especially, but withdrawals/retirements don't help.
It should glean far more media globally but I've barely seen anything in the British and French press.
And, frankly, in France, they only really care about singles, and generally men's singles.
Even at my tennis if asked to name the last French player to win a singles major, 9 times out of 10 they reply with Yannick Noah! I have to remind them of Mauresmo, Pierce and Bartoli. Of whom only Mauresmo gets any respect. Pierce "Not French", and Bartoli gets the worst of it because she wasn't considered aesthetically pleasing i.e. they don't want to sleep with her! Truly.

Well you know I agree, I definitely want Barty to win but the surface and just everything seems to suit Svitolina. Imagine this was a slam, she'd finally crack her streak..

I've enjoyed watching the event and there's been some good matches but definitely not as good as years gone past. I remember 2014 was such a good year. Wozniacki/Sharapova played an epic match that I was enthralled by and then there was the Halep demolition against Serena where Halep could do nothing wrong!

And yes very sad how people forget about women's tennis. Same thing in America. Many would say Roddick (or maybe even Serena) when the correct answer is Sloane. The country only cares about men or the Williams sisters. I read an interesting article recently about how Nike has invested a lot into Anisimova so she could be the next big star but the sad thing is they've only done that as she's what most straight men would deem as attractive yet players like Keys, Sloane and even Kenin (who I think is stunning!) are left behind.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

2018: Svitolina (hadn't won a slam or made a final or even a SF + all 4 SFists hadn't won a slam that year)
2017: Wozniacki (hadn't won a slam at that point + all 4 SFists hadn't won a slam that year)
2016: Cibulkova (this one still boggles me, Domi went 1-2 in the RR and beat 2x slam champ Kerber in the final)
2015: Radwanska (2015 was always going to be weird with 3x slam champ Serena out but Aga winning after also going 1-2 was crazy).

My should've win list
2015: Garbine
2016: Angie
2017: Karolina
2018: Svitolina/Sloane

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

And yes very sad how people forget about women's tennis. Same thing in America. Many would say Roddick (or maybe even Serena) when the correct answer is Sloane. The country only cares about men or the Williams sisters. I read an interesting article recently about how Nike has invested a lot into Anisimova so she could be the next big star but the sad thing is they've only done that as she's what most straight men would deem as attractive yet players like Keys, Sloane and even Kenin (who I think is stunning!) are left behind.

Personally I think Whitney is the prettiest of the teen.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Man, Svitolina's coach is hot.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

My should've win list
2015: Garbine
2016: Angie
2017: Karolina
2018: Svitolina/Sloane

2015: Yeah either Maria or Garbie. Both went 3-0 in the RR, both made a slam final that year. Aga winning was just embarrassing.
2016: Angie, heavy favourite in that final but just couldn't deliver.
2017: Was actually ok with Caroline winning since she went on to win the 2018 AO title. Otherwise maybe Venus or even Garcia who had such a good end to the year.
2018: Svitolina dominated the tournament so I didn't hate her winning

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Jesus Christ, what is up Svitolina to make her play this good this tournament? Where has this been at slams? Far out.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Man, Svitolina's coach is hot.

I would say he's average ginger before. But he's bulking and gym up last 2 years hence the new and improved
He's hitting partner/travelling coach for Ivanovic for years before working with Svitolina and get promoted.

I suspect he's gay tho

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Barty missing out a sitter on Svito 119 km/h 2nd serve.

No BP so far, 4-all.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Svitolina out of challenges. Now that's not good.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

My god this court favours Svitolina. So hard to hit winners.

BP Elina.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

HOLY ****! What a down the line from Barty! That was just gorgeous as the commentator said.

ADV Barty.

And back to deuce. This is such a big game.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

That net approach by Ash just so good!

Followed up by an error.

Svitolina making no errors but also not doing anything well, it's all Barty whether win or losing.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Barty is bit passive. She hit some gorgeous volley before yet very afraid to come forward.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

THAT is why you don't waste challenges.

Barty serves, it's called in, Svitolina can't challenge since she's out of challenges.Turns out the ball was long but since there was no challenge, doesn't matter. Barty wins the point and holds serve after saving break points.

Svitolina wasted that last challenge earlier in the game. Stupid.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I will always respect Ash Barty because she doesn't resort to loud screams on her points when she's in trouble unlike Svitolina, Sabalenka, Sharapova, Azarenka, Muguruza and so many more.

If you're game is in doubt and you have to start squealing, you aren't a good player.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Set point Barty!

Come on Ash! Serve it to that squealer!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

If there's one woman I want to hit a smash at the net, it's Barty. Even Djokovic misses but Ash is so damn clutch. No Djokosmash from her!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

STUNNING RETURN WINNER! Barty breaks and takes the first set!

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Finally. There was like a lot of 2nd serve of Svito that goes bellow 120 km/h and not getting killed straight away.

1st set Ash Bar.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

HOLY ****! What a down the line from Barty! That was just gorgeous as the commentator said.

ADV Barty.

And back to deuce. This is such a big game.

For those wanting to see the point I spoke about

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1190966372282429440

Such a clutch point there!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I mean seriously.

Tell me women's tennis is boring after this?

Svitolina is looking at winning the largest prize money in tennis history (male or female) and she hit this lob and then more to get break point.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1190966137883770880

 

[Nostradamus]

Svitolina has put on some weight. and that is making her play even better. but that choky brain hasn't improved any

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Big hold from Barty to start the 2nd set from 0-30 down.