I notice in the Race to Singapore, Pliskova and Bertens are both playing this week but Svitolina isnt. Is this a calculated gamble by her? I imagine she wont play Moscow as she is Ukrainian (or doesnt that matter these days?) but was surprised she didnt try and pick up some points in Luxembourg?

Ace Ventura wrote:

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She was desperately chasing WCs for Lux and Moscow but Sloane got in first for Moscow and effectively sealed her place.

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 So she was outflanked in effect! A battle of the management teams??! 

 

I hope it doesnt back fire on her. 

Out of the 3 of them, think I'd prefer to be in this order.

1) Pliskova - destiny in own hands. Needs to beat a Russian qualifier and then possibly Sevastova to guaranteed qualifification and if she loses, she can still get in if Bertens doesn't win 2 matches.

2) Svitolina - not in her hands, but advanced if one of the others loses before the semi finals.

3) Bertens - in her hands but has to win 2 matches or it's over. Looks like Sasnovich first which will be tricky and Kiki isn't in the form she was a few weeks ago.

I'm spamming this thread with not GB stuff but it is Sasnovich for Bertens as the Belarusian has beaten Buzarnescu 3 and 4. I feel so sorry for Buzarnescu, she could easily have been been in contention for Singapore and now she hasn't even made Zhuhai. She was going great guns having just won San Jose Premier but then had that nasty fall vs Svitolina in either Cincy or Canada, missed the US Open and hasn't won a match since returning, also losing to Sasnovich the other week in China.

JonH wrote:

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Ace Ventura wrote:

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I'm spamming this thread with not GB stuff but it is Sasnovich for Bertens as the Belarusian has beaten Buzarnescu 3 and 4. I feel so sorry for Buzarnescu, she could easily have been been in contention for Singapore and now she hasn't even made Zhuhai. She was going great guns having just won San Jose Premier but then had that nasty fall vs Svitolina in either Cincy or Canada, missed the US Open and hasn't won a match since returning, also losing to Sasnovich the other week in China.

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 Sorry to further hijack the thread - who are the main riders and runners for Zhuhai? Is it the 9-16 ranked players in Race or are there any WC's awarded and who are likely to play - I presume some dont take their places? Presumably Jo Konta is too far away even if she somehow won Moscow? 

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 No is well out of contention in afraid. It's 9-19 with a wildcard reserved for a Chinese player.

Serena is ruled out and Keys probably as well. Barty pulled out of Beijing so she may have ended her season and then there will be egos there who may just want to end their season, but you're looking at the likes of:

 

Svitolina (or Bertens/Pliskova)

Garcia

Ostapenko

Sabalenka

Muguruza

Kasatkina

Sevastova 

Barty

Keys

Mertens

Goerges

 

The likes of Wang, Kontaveit and Suarez Navarro are in contention. Wang will get the WC but may get in directly and that will save the WC from the Chinese feds perspective. Tsurenko can just about sneak in but would have to win Moscow.

 

JonH wrote:

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Thanks ace. Being frank, the point of the event sort of passes me by. It has the same sort of meaning as the ATP Challenger Tour finals had, ie no meaning in the wider context and thus like the next gen finals likely to also one day fall away. I could be wrong, but over the years there's a history of contrived events and they don't last!

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I agree, does seem a bit pointless, but it's worth 750 points so better than a Premier in that regard and if they all do show up then I actually prefer that line up to the Singapore one as a lot of my favourite players could be involved, so I will be tuning in with BT announcing last week that they have the rights again.

Harriet+ a set and and 4-1 up in their doubles.