Battle for the top ( women )

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Battle for the top ( women )

indiana · Tennis legend

Err you intending on playing any more tennis this year, Venus ?

Michael D · All-time great

If she carries on like this, one cannot help but feel that Caroline deserves to go to Singapore.... And would likely do some damage there too.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

JoKo 2017: Grand Slam matches won 9. Prem Mandatory matches won 7. Prem 5 matches won 3. Prem matches won 10. International matches won 7. Wins against Top 10 opponents 4. Ranked 11-20 5. Ranked 21-50 10. Ranked 51-100 10. Ranked 101+ 7

Caroline Garcia 2017: GS matches won 11. Prem Mandatory matches won 7. Prem 5 matches won 11. Prem matches won 3. International matches won 14. Wins against Top 10 opponents 3. Ranked 11-20 3. Ranked 21-50 9. Ranked 51-100 21. Ranked 101+ 10

JoKo 2016: GS 9. PM 10. P5 9. P 7. I 5. Wins against Top 10 opponents 6. Ranked 11-20 3. Ranked 21-50 16. Ranked 51-100 13. Ranked 101+ 6

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Caroline has pulled out of Tianjin.

Does this mean the ball is completely in Jo's court now? Jo needs to make the semis at Moscow, I read - is that right?

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Garcia has certainly come up on the rails to perfection it seems and it looks like Jo is going to just miss out on Singapore for the second year running. As has been said, she does seem to have run out of gas and may be carrying an injury niggle so it may be a blessing in disguise to enable her to get ready for 2018.

Having said that, if Jo somehow comes good in Moscow to seal her place that would have a nice irony to it after last year...

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
Caroline has pulled out of Tianjin.

Does this mean the ball is completely in Jo's court now? Jo needs to make the semis at Moscow, I read - is that right?

According to Carol Bouchard on Twitter, Caroline has asked for a WC into Moscow, though Spiceboy on Tennisforum says several other high profile players are believed to be in negotiation for a wildcard so not automatic that Garcia gets one.

If you read Indiana's analysis, JoKo needs to make the final of Moscow, assuming Caroline doesn't add to her current points total. If Caroline plays Moscow and reaches the semis then that would force JoKo to win the event (as would a final in Luxembourg). The relevant 16th best scores are 95 for CG and 55 for JK. By my maths, if JoKo wins Moscow then she is safe regardless of how CG performs.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Moscow tournament director says they won't give a wildcard to Garcia (this comes from The Boiled Egg on Tennisforum)

indiana · Tennis legend

kundalini wrote:
Moscow tournament director says they won't give a wildcard to Garcia (this comes from The Boiled Egg on Tennisforum)

On a non parochial level, it would be a shame for Garcia if she could only sit and watch while Jo retook the #8 position with no opportunity to influence events after the couple of weeks she's had. But she could have entered in the first place. Would still of course mean Jo having to find form that she's not displayed for a fair time.

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

Unless Jo is injured, her form from US Open means she has no right to make it and indeed it would demean the sport if she did. Such a shame as when she's on form she's arguably world class.

indiana · Tennis legend

The top 8 points scorers have the right to make it.

JonH · All-time great

kundalini wrote:
Moscow tournament director says they won't give a wildcard to Garcia (this comes from The Boiled Egg on Tennisforum)

telegraph is reporting this as well, Moscow tournament Director stating that it is his responsibility to support Russian players asking for wildcards. Means jo only has to reach the Moscow final now and all ends well...good luck!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Lots of tweets going around that Jo has withdrawn from Moscow ????

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

The source is credible. Has access to player zone with all the updated entry lists due to being the manager of one (or more) players. Not seen anyone else credible confirm or deny the claim.

Update: BBC now reporting it, as is WTA and everyone else.

-- Edited by kundalini on Thursday 12th of October 2017 08:40:58 AM

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Presumably Jo's injury niggle (hopefully just a niggle) meant she couldn't risk it; maybe, as Indy infers above, Venus isn't going to Singapore and Jo knows it?

Jo was one of Venus's sportsgear chosen ones going back a year or so; maybe they are still on good terms and Venus has tipped her a wink?

Or maybe Jo just really does need to get herself injury free again which Singapore would jeopardise.