Shame there's no British interest in either singles or doubles, although unlike the last couple of years, there were no genuine contenders heading into the latter stages of the season. Final year in Singapore before it adds to China's ever-growing list of tournaments.
Got underway this morning with the 'white' group. Svitolina ended her poor run of recent form with a good straight sets win over an out of sorts Kvitova.
I'm currently watch Pliskova vs Wozniacki. I'm about 30 m8nd behind and Pliskova is a set and a break up, so the ways this is going, it'll probably be over already.
-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Sunday 21st of October 2018 01:30:21 PM
I wondered if anyone had been following this event? Seems to have been lots of 3 sets matches so far and also lots of upsets (ie lower ranked player beating higher) and thus v competitive. Coming into final set of matches all 8 players seemed able to qualify? I see Pliskova has now reached semis after beating Kvitova (who in turn is also out now) and Svitolina v Wozniacki needs CW to win in straight sets otherwise ES will join KP in the last 4.
Usually these end of tour season finales seem to under deliver on the promise and this one seems to have been relatively low key (perhaps without Serena and Halep) but is actually looking a v competitive event.
I heard the surface was playing v slow, not sure if anyone seen any action to comment?
Also - see it is moving to China next year - will that become an outdoor event or is Shenzhen an indoor venue? Will it moving to China impact on the other end of season event (the Elite Trophy) and its venue in China?
Also noticed all the players get 250 points for just qualifying. Not for winning. Not sure that feels fair as it is a big chunk that they presumably get to keep all year.
Also noticed all the players get 250 points for just qualifying. Not for winning. Not sure that feels fair as it is a big chunk that they presumably get to keep all year.
More. It's 375 points for playing and losing 3 matches as Kvitova has done.
250 points for winning group matches,125 for losing. Further 330 points for winning the SF and then 420 more for winning the final. So 1500 points for an undefeated champion. All as a 17th counter. And yes basically kept all year, just coming off before next year's tour finals ( so at least doesn't count towards next year's race ).
Certainly will generally broaden the rankings gaps after the top 9, especially with the lower members of that 9 winning.
In comparison next week the Elite Trophy players get 120 points for winning and 40 points for losing in their 2 group games, and an undefeated champion gets 700 points in total. And it is a component part of their maximum 16 counters.
-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 25th of October 2018 01:51:23 PM
Also noticed all the players get 250 points for just qualifying. Not for winning. Not sure that feels fair as it is a big chunk that they presumably get to keep all year.
More. It's 375 points for playing and losing 3 matches as Kvitova has done.
250 points for winning group matches,125 for losing. Further 330 points for winning the SF and then 420 more for winning the final. So 1500 points for an undefeated champion. All as a 17th counter. And yes basically kept all year, just coming off before next year's tour finals ( so at least doesn't count towards next year's race ).
Certainly will generally broaden the rankings gaps after the top 9, especially with the lower members of that 9 winning.
In comparison next week the Elite Trophy players get 120 points for winning and 40 points for losing in their 2 group games, and an undefeated champion gets 700 points in total. And it is a component part of their maximum 16 counters.
-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 25th of October 2018 01:51:23 PM
375 points just for showing up and a load of cash. Dont mind the cash, that is like a bonus for a year well done, but the points feel unfair; why do they deserve more points for having got the most points anyway on the Tour and then not winning a match - I like the ATP approach, points should only come with a win.
So the semi-final line-ups are Elina Svitolina v Kiki Bertens and Sloane Stephens v Karolina Pliskova.
Difficult one to call they way they are all playing right now.
So the semi-final line-ups are Elina Svitolina v Kiki Bertens and Sloane Stephens v Karolina Pliskova. Difficult one to call they way they are all playing right now.
given the way it has panned out (the 4 lowest ranked get through) then you have to be confident Bertens is going to top this and win the whole she-bang as the alt in the draw.
Actually, 2018 h2h's actually favour Bertens (1-0 v Svitolina) to play Pliskova (1-0 over Stephens) and Bertens to win (2-1 in '18).
I wondered if anyone had been following this event? Seems to have been lots of 3 sets matches so far and also lots of upsets (ie lower ranked player beating higher) and thus v competitive. Coming into final set of matches all 8 players seemed able to qualify? I see Pliskova has now reached semis after beating Kvitova (who in turn is also out now) and Svitolina v Wozniacki needs CW to win in straight sets otherwise ES will join KP in the last 4.
Usually these end of tour season finales seem to under deliver on the promise and this one seems to have been relatively low key (perhaps without Serena and Halep) but is actually looking a v competitive event.
I heard the surface was playing v slow, not sure if anyone seen any action to comment?
Also - see it is moving to China next year - will that become an outdoor event or is Shenzhen an indoor venue? Will it moving to China impact on the other end of season event (the Elite Trophy) and its venue in China?
It's still indoors. They are building a new indoor arena for it but it won't be ready until 2020 so they are using one that's already there for 2019. No real impact on the other event, the only difference is they have swapped positions in the calendar next year which makes total sense, so Zhuhai will be this week and the WTA finals will be next week.
Mind, I prefer the Zhuhai line up personally, so has more of a big feel to me, so don't mind that it'll end the regular season this year.
Well done Elina Svitolina on claiming the title after coming back from a set down in the final against Sloane Stephens, having gone into the final week of the regular season ( before Halep's withdrawal ) seemingly having to wait and hope just to compete.
She finishes the season WR 4 behind Halep, Kerber and Wozniacki.
With WR 5 Osaka having won the US Open, it means that the top 5 in the rankings will have shared the 5 biggest prizes of the year. Elina though must so want to get a Slam title onto her CV.
-- Edited by indiana on Monday 29th of October 2018 01:05:29 AM
