Larry Duff
Legend
The wee Harriet hits 180 and moves into the semis.
WTA week of 2/5; Abu Dhabi 500 & Transylvania 250
- Thread starter spystud
- Start date
Larry Duff
Legend
If I don't need the money and it's a choice of Abu Dhabi or Transylvania in February I know where I'd rather be.
coolcamden
Hall of Fame
Bogdan wearing a leopard print looks like she’s going to a night club.
tennis24x7
Hall of Fame
If only Tomic had done that 10 years back, would have had some serious moolah by now.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Plishy with a huge chance to win her first title in over 4 years (!).
Her last title was Brisbane at the start of 2020, before we even knew what Covid was.
Since then she's made some big finals, the 2020 and 2021 Rome Final (the famous double bagel loss to Swiatek), the 2021 Wimbledon final and the 2021 Canadian Open final but lost all of those.
Her last title was Brisbane at the start of 2020, before we even knew what Covid was.
Since then she's made some big finals, the 2020 and 2021 Rome Final (the famous double bagel loss to Swiatek), the 2021 Wimbledon final and the 2021 Canadian Open final but lost all of those.
D-Lite
Hall of Fame
Abu Dhabi is played outdoor whereas Cluj is played indoors, and this is just before outdoor events in Doha/Dubai so being in the region is also logistically preferential.
Raducanu is half Romanian and she's played in Cluj before, so perhaps the scheduling and possibly some appearance fee swayed her but I expect a lot of players feel indoor events are reserved for Autumn. I do find Linz/Cluj moving to February over the traditional Autumn a bit bizarre and I think it undermines their relevance a bit hence the weak turnout. I think Ostapenko was probably given a hefty appearance fee in Linz to rush from the AO doubles final to Linz, likewise I believe Mertens did.
Doha/Dubai look stacked next week - virtually the whole top 20 are playing both (barring those injured/pregnant). I think you're right there's a band of players who need to be playing smaller events and beating more humble ranked opponents before they step up to the big seeds. As we saw with Raducanu she got handled by Jabeur easily. It's good she got a match in against Bouzkova though and won it as there aren't that many players in the Cluj draw better than her. It's a tussle between playing more matches against weaker opposition (but still gaining conditioning in the body to play multiple matches in a row) and playing less matches but having a shot at higher calibre opposition. Raducanu also needs to strike a balance of how many tournaments she plays. She's 262 in the rankings now so needs to bump that ranking up but I think PR is only a certain amount of tournaments? Also she doesn't want to overplay as we know she's an injury liability unless somehow these surgeries have resolved all (doubt it).
Another favourite of mine, Sloane Stephens, is due to play Doha, Dubai, Austin, IW and Miami - this is what I like to see from someone who's seemingly taken huge breaks mid season and rocks up, wins a match and loses the next as a pattern. I know players have other things going on, but it's good to see someone committed to the sport as a veteran who probably only sees themselves playing 2-3 more years. I sincerely hope some deep runs and consistent high level play awaits her even if it's just making SF at a 1000 or major. It will be clay though that I'll be most optimistic for her. I think for a lot of players like Sloane, for them to maintain presence on the tour and not burn out they need to be home for a few weeks every quarter. As you get toward 30 you realise what matters in life so I can understand this desire. If she had played in Hua Hin or Linz/Cluj it really reduces and kind of rushes your time at home/around loved ones and if this has created a pattern of discontent/low mood hence low performance then it's not worth it and I'm sure a lot of players struck a balance for them which may mean a lower ranking and more sporadic match play but once they're on a run of form all it takes is a decent draw and anything can happen on the WTA side.
D-Lite
Hall of Fame
Pliskova is such an odd case, she would often beat my faves such as Muguruza pretty much all the time but she's never been mentally tough enough to take a major title. She did have that 2020/2021 resurgence but it just seems like the loses have kind of finished her off.
A lot of these 250 events can be so weak they're basically 125K events. It's a shame Cluj didn't have Cirstea but maybe she feels too much pressure playing at home - some players do. Likewise with Halep being away from the sport who knows if she would have played it. I do feel it's lacked a star player - I don't feel like Pliskova in a draw like this is even odds on for the title. Maybe once she's in the SF like now it's clear to see she has a good shot but earlier on I'd always assume nowadays she's kind of there to be taken as a scalp for an upcoming players to get their biggest win based on Pliskova's previous achievements.
ScottleeSV
Hall of Fame
Come on Harriet! You can do it. KP is past it. 
ScentOfDefeat
G.O.A.T.
It's weird how Rybakina keeps getting these rotten draws time and time again.
Collins first round again, her destroyer Samsonova yet again, I mean, it's ridiculous.
She's a top 10 that keeps getting a player ranked 80-100's draw.
Collins first round again, her destroyer Samsonova yet again, I mean, it's ridiculous.
She's a top 10 that keeps getting a player ranked 80-100's draw.
D-Lite
Hall of Fame
Neither of those players are a rotten draw unless they're in good form. Both are have incredibly high ceilings but they're only playing their best for a couple of events per year. Rybakina is a far more consistent high ceiling player and she needs to get it together when facing these types. She can handle Sabalenka so she can handle these players if she is totally focussed.
ScentOfDefeat
G.O.A.T.
It's suspicious though, I hardly ever see another top 10 player regularly playing Collins in the early rounds.
There's a history of her getting really difficult draws, it's not the first time.
ultimathule
Hall of Fame
A Battle Royale between Kasatkina and Hadad Maia
albertobra
Hall of Fame
And put "battle" on that. 5-5 third set
albertobra
Hall of Fame
Tiebreak time. Unfortunately only one will win
The Kasatkina - Haddad Maia match was very entertaining. Kasatkina was excellent in the 1st set, but Haddad Maia gradually worked and fought her way back into it, and it was a real slugfest (a Haddad Maia speciality !).
Hopefully Kasatkina, isn't too gassed for tomorrow's final.
Hopefully Kasatkina, isn't too gassed for tomorrow's final.
ScentOfDefeat
G.O.A.T.
Here we go...
Rybakina just can't figure out Samsonova, even she bagels her in the first set.
Rybakina just can't figure out Samsonova, even she bagels her in the first set.
ScottleeSV
Hall of Fame
It will be cool to see the next YT video from Kasatkina if she wins the title.
Dominic & Andrey
Legend
I am so happy to see Elena playing another final ! I was heartbroken after the early AO loss but I am thrilled to see that she moved on right away and is playing some good tennis again. Could be an entertaining final tomorrow against Dasha, who is playing very well and more aggressively than her usual standards.
coolcamden
Hall of Fame
I watched Ryba played Daria in San Jose live, where she lost. Ryba was miserable that day. 0 for whatever at the net. Daria just wouldn’t quit, and Ryba ran out of patience, ala Saby/Gauff. We’ll see how they will do now.
spystud
Talk Tennis Guru
Doha thread is up since it starts a little early.
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
2024 WTA Doha 1000
Have to start this early because play begins before the two current tourneys end. When was the last time Doha & Dubai were both 1000/Premier events in the same season? Draw 56-player field, top 8 get byes. Iga/Coco/Elena lead the way, Aryna is chillin'. Action gets underway Sunday morning.
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
D-Lite
Hall of Fame
Hope Bogdan can win it and become the first Romanian champion. Previous Romanians who were RU were Halep and Ruse.
Kasatkina is right to be aggrieved that after playing in today's Abu Dhabi final against Rybakina, she is scheduled to play her 1st round match in Doha against Pavlyuchenkova tomorrow.
I know performance byes were a hot topic at Tokyo last year, with Rybakina effectively losing her bye to Caroline Garcia who had reached the Guadalajara the previous week. However with a 56 player draw at Doha as a opposed to a 32 or 64 player one, I think that a performance bye for Kasatkina at Doha, would have made sense. I don't like byes in general, but if there is no crossover / overlap, performance byes make more sense to me than ranking byes in situations like this.
I know performance byes were a hot topic at Tokyo last year, with Rybakina effectively losing her bye to Caroline Garcia who had reached the Guadalajara the previous week. However with a 56 player draw at Doha as a opposed to a 32 or 64 player one, I think that a performance bye for Kasatkina at Doha, would have made sense. I don't like byes in general, but if there is no crossover / overlap, performance byes make more sense to me than ranking byes in situations like this.
NaomiKonjuhPotapova
G.O.A.T.
Would really love for Dasha to win but she just horrible when start gaining momentum.
tennis24x7
Hall of Fame
Had high hopes for Rybakina but she is too flaky in the slams.
robyrolfo
Hall of Fame
I believe that last final loss was to the Queen of tennis, Camilia Giorgi, no?
But it looks like Pliskova is making a push this year to get back to form. She was really bad for most of 2023.
All the good draws are going to Gauff. Not kidding.
This! Pretty much unwatchable on TV.
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