Week 40 - WTA Premier Mandatory ($6.4M) - China Open Beijing, China Hard

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

Week 40 - WTA Premier Mandatory ($6.4M) - China Open Beijing, China Hard

JonH · All-time great

indiana wrote:
No, it's much more, as many will know, that I am a bit of a statto, indeed in various sports, so the numbers games generally interest me and I was just giving facts on the race situation. And certainly at least in recent times I have never meant to suggest that Singapore was any sort of be all and end all.

I don't disagree that it is at least very arguable what good her continuing to play tournaments this season and / or at least participation in Singapore will do for her generally.
So anyway, that's the position for folk to take on board / be interested in, bothered about as they wish.

I am with Indi and follow these as a bit of a statto as well. However, on a practical level, qualifying for the Tour finals in mens or womens is the pinnacle, in theory, of the respective tours seasons. Like qualifying for the NFL Play offs. However, in tennis I suspect qualifying is more satisfying than winning. Many of the players get there and then dont perform. I suspect for many a large bonus for qualifying is in their endorsement deals, thus a financial and, as Vohor says, ranking points incentive. However, they may stand above all other tour events but certainly it stands in prestige below the Slams.

I would imagine Jo's professional pride and ambition would make her want to get there - sort of in a validation sort of way.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Jeff Stelling wrote:
Laughably pathetic. She ought to apologise to each and every British citizen for bringing such shame on our shoulders.

I'll leave that role for Theresa May.

Happy to have Jo instead.

So take Kiki M, if you want. Or Genie Bouchard. Or a whole heap of others. It's no better. So many are struggling.

indiana · Tennis legend

I rather think Jo's in credit with the British citizen this year

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Stephens loses in R2; only Vandeweghe and Garcia standing between Jo and Singapore now (if I'm reading the live rankings right which has the Singapore cut mark reduced to 3815 just 205 in front of Jo's total; if neither lift the title here Jo qualifies?).

the addict · Tennis legend

Still two more weeks of qualification after Beijing, with 750 points (280+470) available, (see Indi's post in the Battle for the top thread), so not all over just yet, but they would need to make at least the semifinals as I see it. They are both on the top half of the draw, but different quarters

LordBrownof · Futures level

Given her form and with Singapore looming, any chance Jo will take a WC into another tournament?

-- Edited by LordBrownof on Monday 2nd of October 2017 01:19:37 PM

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

LordBrownof wrote:
Given her form and with Singapore looming, any chance Jo will take a WC into another tournament?

JoKo is on the list for Hong Kong and Moscow so she's already playing a full schedule.

No sign of Caroline Garcia on Moscow list, nor Luxembourg, so that would limit her maximum points total unless she got a late wildcard. Coco Vandeweghe is on the list for Moscow.

indiana · Tennis legend

vohor wrote:
Stephens loses in R2; only Vandeweghe and Garcia standing between Jo and Singapore now (if I'm reading the live rankings right which has the Singapore cut mark reduced to 3815 just 205 in front of Jo's total; if neither lift the title here Jo qualifies?).

No. They can still make decent inroads and with another 750 points to be played for in the two weeks between here and the tour finals. Assuming all the potential Singapore players are able to play there the cut is for now well above 3815. Though in practice that very well may be more than enough and Jo may end up having done more than enough already.

Edit: ah sorry, I see that the addict did point out in the very next post what I had previously pointed to elsewhere.

PS: As things stand, in addition to Vandeweghe and Garcia, actually Vesnina and Barty each retain a miniscule chance of overtaking Jo. That does involve winning Beijing, then a WTA International and then the Moscow Premier and Jo not doing a lot. But in theory we're counting down from four.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 3rd of October 2017 01:45:18 AM

blob · All-time great

R16 Watson/Stephens (GBR/USA) lost to Babos/Hlavackova (HUN/CZE) [4] 3-6 4-6