2019 Race to Shenzhen

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: 2019 Race to Shenzhen

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Bencic has a Moscow QWC. Not sure if that was all that was available to her, or if it was specifically requested to try and build a bit of confidence / extra points, I'd assume the former because she has looked really tired recently and was playing US ITF events in October and November last year, so didn't really have an off season. The top 4 get byes into R2, but can't see how that would work in this situation, so she'll surely have to start in round 1 should she qualify

Bertens vs Van Uytvanck coming up soon in Linz.

indiana · Tennis legend

Ace Ventura wrote:
Bencic has a Moscow QWC. Not sure if that was all that was available to her, or if it was specifically requested to try and build a bit of confidence / extra points, I'd assume the former because she has looked really tired recently and was playing US ITF events in October and November last year, so didn't really have an off season. The top 4 get byes into R2, but can't see how that would work in this situation, so she'll surely have to start in round 1 should she qualify

Bertens vs Van Uytvanck coming up soon in Linz.

Yes, I've seen tournaments where high ranked qualifiers have been seeded in MDs. But that has been when the MD has been done after qualifying has been completed whereas with WTA tour it is usually out earlier, in which case she'd just take up one of the normal Q slots.

indiana · Tennis legend

Bertens beat Van Uytvanck in 3 sets in Linz. Faces Coco Gauff in the QF.

She needs to reach the final to add to her race points. The net points that that would add would take her above Serena to #8 if that matters.

She can't though get out of Bencic's mathematical Moscow reach this week.

flamingowings · All-time great

Bencic not in quals. Rumours are that she has been bumped to main draw after a player withdrew.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

And Gauff has just taken out Bertens to make the semi final of Linz!

Hopefully Bencic will be in the Moscow main draw, and get that bye as well.

Think that means Svitolina is the 7th to qualify. Obviously only one of Bencic or Bertens can win Moscow - Bencic certainly needs the title to pass her, but a final for Bertens would see her on the same amount of points as Svitolina, but she didn't do as well in the slams or PMs, so couldn't pass her.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Friday 11th of October 2019 04:04:34 PM

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Bencic in the Moscow main draw with a WC and a bye. Same half as Bertens, and they are due to meet in the semi final (although that's FAR from guaranteed), and if they did, the winner of that would then qualify for Shenzhen, so both just 3 wins away.

If neither make the final then Serena will qualify, but if she withdraws as expected (apparently has some talk in that week), then Bertens would qualify.

Svitolina effectively guaranteed (only the prospect of Serena rocking up in the Luxembourg draw is keeping it from being official).

flamingowings · All-time great

Diego Barbiani
@Diego_Barbiani

Serena Williams is among the notable speakers for the "2019 Forbes Under 30 Summit" in Detroit, between 27th and 30th October.

Which means, even if she qualifies (still 8th in the Race), she won't be in Shenzhen for the WTA Finals. Last time she competed in this event was 2014.

twitter.com/AlientoAZ/status/1179157370200416257

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Bencic just about keeping her hopes alive in Moscow. Lost the first set 1-6 to Hercog, in tears at the sit down, won the second, was *0-3 in the decider, but has just won 4 games straight, so *4-3 now.

Bertens is watching on in the crowd.

Bencic wins 1-6 6-3 6-4 smile . Possibly plays Yastremska in the QF. Bertens vs Kanepi tomorrow.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Wednesday 16th of October 2019 10:10:40 AM

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Not the Race to Shenzhen but WTA Elite trophy in Zhuhai where in company with some other players Jo has pulled with knee injury. Can't find out exactly what the knee injury is.

emmsie69 · ATP level

ROSAMUND wrote:
Not the Race to Shenzhen but WTA Elite trophy in Zhuhai where in company with some other players Jo has pulled with knee injury. Can't find out exactly what the knee injury is.

A great excuse for avoiding some meaningless tournament is what it is, I wonder how Haleps back injury that flared up agian when in Asia is at the moment

indiana · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
ROSAMUND wrote:
Not the Race to Shenzhen but WTA Elite trophy in Zhuhai where in company with some other players Jo has pulled with knee injury. Can't find out exactly what the knee injury is.
A great excuse for avoiding some meaningless tournament is what it is, I wonder how Haleps back injury that flared up agian when in Asia is at the moment

Yes, who needs potentially well over half a million dollars prize money and 700 ranking points for an undefeated Elite Trophy winner? - quite apart from the just turning up awards.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Well winning Zhuhai in 2018 was just a stepping stone for a great 2019 for Ashleigh Barty.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
ROSAMUND wrote:
Not the Race to Shenzhen but WTA Elite trophy in Zhuhai where in company with some other players Jo has pulled with knee injury. Can't find out exactly what the knee injury is.
A great excuse for avoiding some meaningless tournament is what it is, I wonder how Haleps back injury that flared up agian when in Asia is at the moment

I agree, the elite trophy is a farce, has no relevance to anything. Theyve tried to use this and before it the tournament of champions event to create money and points for the next tier of the top 20. But it's an irrelevance and, I believe, should be scrapped. It existed because China didn't have the year end finals, now they have them, let's close this event down.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Ace Ventura wrote:
Bencic in the Moscow main draw with a WC and a bye. Same half as Bertens, and they are due to meet in the semi final (although that's FAR from guaranteed), and if they did, the winner of that would then qualify for Shenzhen, so both just 3 wins away.

If neither make the final then Serena will qualify, but if she withdraws as expected (apparently has some talk in that week), then Bertens would qualify.

Svitolina effectively guaranteed (only the prospect of Serena rocking up in the Luxembourg draw is keeping it from being official).

Not sure if wta called it yet, but live rankings site showing svitolina as confirmed in 7th spot.