Week 38 - WTA Premier ($890K) - Tokyo, Japan - Hard

PaulM · Tennis legend

Week 38 - WTA Premier ($890K) - Tokyo, Japan - Hard

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, the race #s 9 to #12 ( Mladenovic, Kuznetsova, Vandeweghe and Stephens ) grouped on 2711 through to 2876 points ( before another 300 plus point gap back to #13 Sevastova ) are a long way back from Jo's 3655 points and none of these are competing this week. I'd still say that the odds are on Jo finishing the race in the top 8 positions, albeit big points still to play for, particularly in Wuhan and Beijing.

My main concern for Singapore would be that just the top 7 are guaranteed places with the 8th apparently at unspecified "discretion" of the WTA. If Ostapenko overtakes Jo ( extremely possible, indeed maybe this week as she does her own thing in Korea ) then there would still be another Slam champion in Sloane Stephens lurking outside the top 7 and it would actually seem not unreasonable for her to have a call. Though the WTA should have more specific criteria than they appear to have re the 8th player in the race potentially losing out to someone else.

6. Wozniacki 4210 plus net 40 so far this week
7. Konta 3655
8. Ostapenko 3493 plus net 59 so far this week
9. Mladenovic 2876
10. Kuznetsova 2846
11. Vandeweghe 2754
12. Stephens 2711
13. Sevastova 2345
14. Keys 2212

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 21st of September 2017 10:49:53 AM

paulisi · Tennis legend

First serve let Jo down again. Very few cheap points gained and Barbara is defensively superb, so Jo's power was slightly negated.

Jan · Hall of fame

I was mega disappointed when I saw the result. Hope Jo can bounce back and put a few wins together soon.

wolf · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
My main concern for Singapore would be that just the top 7 are guaranteed places with the 8th apparently at unspecified "discretion" of the WTA. If Ostapenko overtakes Jo ( extremely possible, indeed maybe this week as she does her own thing in Korea ) then there would still be another Slam champion in Sloane Stephens lurking outside the top 7 and it would actually seem not unreasonable for her to have a call. Though the WTA should have more specific criteria than they appear to have re the 8th player in the race potentially losing out to someone else.

https://mobile.twitter.com/DavidLawTennis/status/911303034608799744

indiana · Tennis legend

wolf wrote:
indiana wrote:
My main concern for Singapore would be that just the top 7 are guaranteed places with the 8th apparently at unspecified "discretion" of the WTA. If Ostapenko overtakes Jo ( extremely possible, indeed maybe this week as she does her own thing in Korea ) then there would still be another Slam champion in Sloane Stephens lurking outside the top 7 and it would actually seem not unreasonable for her to have a call. Though the WTA should have more specific criteria than they appear to have re the 8th player in the race potentially losing out to someone else.
https://mobile.twitter.com/DavidLawTennis/status/911303034608799744

Thanks wolf and the tweeters. So top 8 should suffice as per these eminent citizens. Ostapenko has now gone 7th in the race by reaching the Seoul final, but Jo is for now well clear of anyone else in 8th.