WTA PREMIER MANDATORY: BEIJING

[Aussie Darcy]

Also, as the defending champion, Radwanska's loss overnight to Kasatkina has her plummet down 6 spots to #17 in the world. She could potentially drop lower depending on how far Kvitova, Strycova and Kasatkina go.

Come Monday, this will be the first time Radwanska has been ranked outside of the top 15 since May 2008. Yes, a whopping 9 consecutive years inside the top 15. That's insane.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Also, as the defending champion, Radwanska's loss overnight to Kasatkina has her plummet down 6 spots to #17 in the world. She could potentially drop lower depending on how far Kvitova, Strycova and Kasatkina go.

Come Monday, this will be the first time Radwanska has been ranked outside of the top 15 since May 2008. Yes, a whopping 9 consecutive years inside the top 15. That's insane.

What's insane is this
Out of those who make SF on WTA finals 2016. No one makes an appearance in 2017.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Konta will be qualifly if garcia does not reach the sf

 

[tennis4me]

Halep leads Kasatkina on 1st 6-2. Halep seems to be hitting with much more aggressive and faster swing speed on the FH side - commentator also mentioned that it seems different than the last 2 weeks of her FH. Maybe Pavel brought some technical changes to Halep's game instead of just pep-talk.

 

[tennis4me]

Halep cruising at 4-1. Looked very focused and determined to get that #1.

 

[tennis4me]

Halep won the match 6-2, 6-1 - the exact same score she lost to Kasatkina just a week ago at Wuhan. The win against Sharapova was probably a big boost in confidence for Halep. Congrats to Halep. Very solid and aggressive play, especially from the FH side.

 

[spystud]

Hancu is killing it!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Halep v Ostapenko SF would be very juicy. First time since the French Open final..

Just need Jelena to beat Cirstea now. She's currently up a set 6-4 on her.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

What's insane is this
Out of those who make SF on WTA finals 2016. No one makes an appearance in 2017.

Ah 'that' selfie. The one that included Konta as the 8th player before Kuznetsova overtook her by playing in Moscow, winning the title and qualifying at literally the last minute. I remember someone photoshopped Kuznetsova's face on Konta's, that was funny. Poor Konta, missed out at the last minute.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Also, Cibulkova has withdrawn from Linz where she was the defending champ. She's also withdrawn from Moscow and won't qualify for the WTA finals where she was the defending champ.

That's 1530 points of her ranking, about 46% of her total points. That'll be quite the fall for her. Unsure if she'll qualify/play the WTA Elite Tropphy.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Halep won the match 6-2, 6-1 - the exact same score she lost to Kasatkina just a week ago at Wuhan. The win against Sharapova was probably a big boost in confidence for Halep. Congrats to Halep. Very solid and aggressive play, especially from the FH side.

And a very bad match from Kasatkina. Terrible first set, just 2 winners and 21 unforced errors.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Ostapenko through 6-4 6-4. Sets a French Open final rematch against Halep.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Kvitova up 5-2 on Strycova.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Kvitova wins 6-3 6-4 over Strycova. Into the SF.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Will be interesting if garcia or Kvitova takes out svitolina & halep must beat ostapenko to get the no 1 spot or beating svitolina in the final

 

[donquijote]

Funny every tournament is deciding who will be the next No1. What a thrill!
Happy for Petra. She has a chance to win her second title this year which will be really an amazing achievement.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Garcia is very pretty and on fire but looked so tired.

 

[tennis4me]

And a very bad match from Kasatkina. Terrible first set, just 2 winners and 21 unforced errors.

Yup. However, sometimes these numbers can be in causal effect relation. E.g. more unforced errors because trying to counter a very aggressive opponent. Low "winners" because opponent doesn't give opportunity to create winners, etc..

Kasatkina did look a little flat during the match, though. She was more fiery and pumped up in Wuhan. She's definitely has a lot of potential to grow. She routinely rallied 20+ balls with Halep - and she's only 20! Looking forward to future great matches from her.

Also, her game is a little different than most WTA players in that she uses a lot more top spin than most WTA players. Probably the only other player I know of who hits with that much topspin FH is Stosur.

 

[Deleted member 293577]

Svitolina has a chance to serve it out. They are both having a hard time holding serve though...

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Svitolina is a crazy one eh. Screaming like cray.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Poor serving from both.

 

[Deleted member 293577]

Svitolina is a crazy one eh. Screaming like cray.

Yeah, she wants it. Wow, 6 straight breaks of serve, Elina gets another chance to serve it out.

 

[Deleted member 293577]

Tie break to decide it.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

IF Halep can past Ostapenko tomorrow and Svitolina pass Garcia, Kvitova has better chance to makes Halep no. 1 than Halep herself to beat Svitolina.

Oh well breaks again. Svitolina again broken at love lol.

 

[Deleted member 293577]

Yeah, that will be interesting to see how Halep handles the final if she can get past Ostapenko. She has brought a case of the nerves to each chance before this year. Kvitova is kind of wild card, but seems to be playing better and better.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Svitolina's coach is hot.

Turns out is hitting partner but been coaching her some times

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

YES GARCIA WON. Simona it's your time now!

Do you guys think this EOY breakthrough of Garcia almost equal of Muguruza in 2014? She doesn't have a slam final yet but still pretty good stuff from her.
(Muguruza reach Wuhan final and win Beijing and smashing all her RR matches but lost to A-Rad).

 

[Deleted member 293577]

Do you guys think this EOY breakthrough of Garcia almost equal of Muguruza in 2014? She doesn't have a slam final yet but still pretty good stuff from her.
(Muguruza reach Wuhan final and win Beijing and smashing all her RR matches but lost to A-Rad).

I don't know, too soon to tell. It turned out that was a good decision to stop playing doubles and concentrate on singles though. She should pass her former dbls partner Mladenovic in the rankings now.

She did hit a lot of lines today though. Maybe not lucky per se, but it's hard to do that match after match.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Great win from García

She is on the roll since she won wuhan
Konta must be nervous & disappointed right now

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Ranking points before Tokyo/Seoul/Guanghzhou:

Konta - 3600 pts
Ostapenko - 3490 pts
...
Garcia - 1795 pts

Ranking points 19 days later - mid way through Beijing:

Ostapenko* - 4510 pts
Konta - 3610 pts
Garcia* - 3185 pts

*still active in Beijing SF


Impressive from Ostapenko and Garcia. Shockingly poor from Konta.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Also, talk about Déjà vu. Simona Halep will play Jelena Ostapenko for the #1 ranking..

If Halep wins, she'll be the 25th WTA #1, 5th different #1 of 2017 and the 3rd WTA player to debut as #1 this year.

If she loses, Muguruza remains #1.

 

[tennis4me]

Simona with an early first game break against Ostapenko. Ostapenko hits the crap out of the balls. This is a great match that could've been a final. Halep now up 3-1.

 

[tennis4me]

Ostapenko serving at 2-4; going on 6th deuce. Halep got her 2nd break at 5-2. Halep looks very focused and determined for that #1.

 

[tennis4me]

Halep won the first set at 6-2.

 

[Bukmeikara]

Halep one step away from the dreamland

 

[tennis4me]

Second set looks a little more even so far. Simona serving at 1-2.

 

[tennis4me]

Ostapenko's UE is at 24 vs Halep's 8 so far at 2-2 on 2nd set. Simona just broke Ostapenko at 3-2. Getting closer to that elusive #1 ...

 

[tennis4me]

Medina Garrigues just got called during changeover. Unfortunately didn't hear the conversation ... Halep serving at 3-2.

 

[tennis4me]

Ostapenko just broke Halep. Now serving at 3-3. Getting interesting

 

[tennis4me]

Ostapenko serving at 4-4. Wow so many double-tosses from Ostapenko. There should be a limit per set - it's quite distracting for receiver.

 

[tennis4me]

Another break for Halep. Halep leads 5-4. The finish line is near ... or as @Bukmeikara said the "one step away from the dreamland". Halep now serving for the match.

 

[tennis4me]

Congratulations Halep #1!!!!! Halep d Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4

 

[Pagoo]

Dearie me! Another slamless number 1!

 

[Bukmeikara]

Happy for Halep, she deserved it. Still it would be good to win the title tomorow

 

[Pagoo]

Lol. WTA is such a joke. SMH.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Congrats to Simona Halep. New number one on Monday.

25th WTA Number one, 5th different #1 of 2017 and the 3rd to make their debut at the top spot this year.

Slamless #1 yes but at least she has a slam final to her ranking. And she got good revenge on Ostapenko to reach the top spot which is something I guess. Last time they played was the French final and we all know how that went. Hopefully Halep can build on this and win a slam in 2018..

 

[Aussie Darcy]

She's number 1 with just the one title... Madrid. Has three additional finals as well: Rome, French Open and Cincinnati.

That's really not great. Please god let her win the China Open at least.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

You could easily argue the reason we've now had five different number #1's this year is Serena's pregnancy.

The last time the WTA had five different number #1's in the one year? 2008.
They were: Henin, Sharapova, Ivanovic, Jankovic and Serena.

What notable event happened that year to cause it? Henin stunned everyone by retiring whilst occupying the top position.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Finally halep no 1 after 124544 attempts

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Saw this on twitter and it made me chuckle.

Thumbs up if you were number 1 in 2017.