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Thursday, November 18, 2021

Wk.42.2 - The Amazing Muguruza

It's Garbi in Guadalajara!








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*WEEK 42.2 CHAMPIONS*
WTA FINALS; GUADALAJARA, MEXICO (WTA YEC/Hard Court Outdoor)
S: Garbine Muguruza/ESP def. Anett Kontaveit/EST 6-3/7-5
D: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE) def. Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens (TPE/BEL) 6-3/6-4



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PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Garbine Muguruza/ESP
...a season that began with such high-end promise ends with big-time success. As it should be.

Muguruza's '21 season started with her reaching the finals at three events before mid-March. She finally won in Dubai (def. three players who'd reach the WTAF), her biggest title since 2017. But injuries slowed her momentum during the spring, as she missed out on great slam success (a pair of Round of 16 in the AO and US were her best major results). As the summer began to wind down, the Spaniard started her climb toward something resembling her early-season form. With the WTA Finals unexpectedly settling in Guadalajara (Muguruza had already won a pair of tour titles in Mexico, in Monterrey in 2018-19), Garbi had a destination to point toward.

Muguruza went about closing her year on an 11-4 run that included a title in Chicago and her fourth appearance at the WTA Finals. The Spaniard started slowly in round robin play, going three sets vs. Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Krejcikova, losing in a 3rd set TB to the former Czech before pulling out a win against the latter. She needed a final win over Anett Kontaveit (playing for "nothing" after having already clinched a final four berth) just to advance to the semis. Once there, though, Muguruza was the cream of the remaining crop.

The veteran outclassed countrywoman Paula Badosa in straights in an all-Spanish SF, then posted another win over Kontaveit in the final (putting down a late 2nd set threat from the Estonian) to become the first Spaniard to win the event title, picking up her tenth career WTA crown and finishing up the season at #3 in the rankings. It's Muguruza's third Top 3 campaign (2015 & '17) and first Top 10 season in four years.

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RISERS: Anett Kontaveit/EST, Paula Badosa/ESP and Maria Sakkari/GRE
...Kontaveit's remarkable season-ending run was *almost* completed with one final flourish in the tour championships. Almost. But with great power comes great responsibility. As it turned out, it was Kontaveit's one "meaningless" loss in round robin play -- basically her only "blink" during a multi-month sprint to Guadalajara during which she needed each and every win she got in order to complete her journey -- that carved out a path for the opponent who would ultimately prevent the Estonian from lifting the WTAF trophy.



Still, after climbing to the top of the tour's 2021 match win list (w/ 48) while putting together a torrid four-title stretch from August to October, Kontaveit's biggest career final appearance (her tour-leading 7th final of the season) proved that the magic she conjured in recent weeks and months need not be contained in the future to small and/or moderately sized tour events. For years she's *seemed* capable of so much more, and by now she must *know* that such success is firmly within her reach.

Even while Kontaveit didn't claim the win in her closing '21 event, the fight she showed on a big stage in Guadalajara when staging a comeback from a break down in the 3rd set in her semifinal clash with Maria Sakkari could prove to be an experience that will soon serve her well. Recent seasons have been littered with first-time slam semifinalists who couldn't quite make it over the last hurdle to reach a major final. Should the Estonian, so far with a personal best of a QF ('20 AO) in her slam career, reach such a stage in a major in '22, the memory of the way she battled her way past the Greek could prove to be a quite helpful (who knows, it might even be Sakkari who'll be on the other side of the net in such an instance).

Of course, if Kontaveit hadn't dropped her final round robin outing (after she'd already won her Group) maybe things might have ended differently. Kontaveit understandably played with a bit less purprose in the contest, seeing her 12-match winning streak come to an end in straight sets (just her second two-set defeat in 33 matches, since falling in the Olympics 1st Rd. to Sakkari). A win in that match over Garbine Muguruza would sent Karolina Pliskova to the semis over the Spaniard. It didn't seem a big deal for Kontaveit at the time... but then, naturally, it would ultimately be Muguruza who would defeat Kontaveit in the final, essentially "Uncle Ben"-ing her in the tournament's final act.

As it is, Kontaveit, 25, still finishes her season on a 29-4 run (22-3 since the U.S. Open) that has seen her climb from #30 the week before Flushing Meadows (when her run began with a title in Cleveland) to a season-ending #7 three months later.



Until the moment perhaps became a bit *too* big (for now), or maybe it was more a case of a resurgent version of countrywoman Muguruza on the other side of the net (or likely a touch of both), Badosa looked as if she might be about to replicate her Indian Wells title run south of the border in Guadalajara. The Spaniard clinched her WTAF semifinal berth early after rolling off back-to-back RR wins over Aryna Sabalenka and Sakkari. She had a shot to climb into her SF match with Muguruza, but failed to put away GP and BP in back-to-back games as she fell behind 3-0 in the 2nd, then later saw Muguruza pull herself out of a love/30 hole to serve out the win.

But the 24-year old's career year (which will end with her at #8 after ending '20 at #70, then starting '21 with an extra long Covid quarantine in Melbourne) still stands out as one of the best on tour this season, and maybe *the* most resilient. It included that win in the desert, as well as a SF in Madrid, RG and Olympic QF, two titles and six Top 10 wins (one over #1 Ash Barty). While the Finals perhaps didn't have the ending she'd have preferred, Badosa's collective season's work could set her up for even greater things next year. This time, though, the top of the field (of which she's now a part) will see her coming. And therein will lie the new challenge.

Either way, she'll always have the Mariachi band...



Sakkari, too, has made huge strides in 2021 with her rise into the Top 10, pair of slam semis (including serving for the RG final, holding a MP vs. eventual champ Barbora Krejcikova) and the first appearance by a Greek in the WTA Finals field. In round robin play, Sakkari handled Iga Swiatek and later battled back on multiple occasions in the win-or-else group finale against Sabalenka, snatching a SF berth from the Belarusian while staving off a SP in the 1st and rallying from 3-1 down in the 3rd, taking both sets. Sakkari's seventh straight win over a Top 5 player pushed her into an eighth '21 semifinal, but she fell to 1-7 on the season when finding herself a win away from a final (she's 3-14 in her tour career), dropping a three-setter to Kontaveit despite holding a mid-set break lead in the decider against the Estonian.



Thing is, as good as 2021 had been to Sakkari, she's left quite a bit of room for herself to grow still more in '22. She'll be on the cusp of the Top 5 when the upcoming campaign begins, and while there will be many points to defend just a small improvement in her tournament-closing skills (say, a 4-4 or 3-5 mark in semis) could keep her ranking in the same general area, and provide her with a chance to then grab a big title (or two) -- her only tour title came in an International (now 250) event in '19 -- that could make next year even better than the last.
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DOWN: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
...despite it being her first appearance in the WTAF, Sabalenka has to look at the event as something of a lost opportunity.

Installed as the top seed due to the absence of #1 Ash Barty (not that such a thing matters much in a RR event where the #4, #6, #7 and #8 seeds reached the semis), Sabalenka was perpetually slow starting, dropping the opening set in all three matches she played. When she *did* find success early, going up 4-2 over Paula Badosa in her opening match, she then proceded to lose the *final* ten games of the contest. The world #2 battled her serve all week in Mexico, defeating Iga Swiatek in three sets in the RR despite serving up 16 DF.

In a do-or-die group finale for a berth in the semis vs. Maria Sakkari, Sabalenka held a SP on the Greek's serve in the 1st, then served for the set, but was ultimately done in in the TB when she never recovered from back-to-back DF on her first two serves, losing 7-1. She failed to serve out the 2nd set twice, but finally knotted the match by converting on her fourth SP of the set, taking an 8-6 TB. Sabalenka led 3-1 in the 3rd, as well. She rolled her ankle in the final set, though, and found her game increasingly wild. She finished up the 19 DF (10 in the 3rd alone, including two in a row after having a GP at 3-3) while dropping the final five games. Sakkari broke her to end the nearly three-hour match.

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DOUBLES: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
...while the Czechs didn't get the chance to pull their country through the BJK Cup Finals in Prague, with Krejcikova playing only singles and Siniakova falling in a deciding doubles match alongside Lucie Hradecka as CZE was eliminated in round robin play, the longtime partners' play was virtually spotless in Guadalajara as they went 5-0 en route to their maiden WTAF crown.

After going 3-0 in round robin play, the duo won a 10-6 MTB over Nicole Melichar-Martinez/Demi Schuurs in the SF, then posted their second win of the week over Hsieh Su-wei & Elise Mertens in a 6-3/6-4 final (the Czechs had won 3 & 1 in RR action) to claim their fifth title of the year (including RG and the Olympics) and tenth overall as a pair in their tour careers.

The title allows Siniakova (whose six '21 wins tops the WTA) to overtake Hsieh and end the season as the doubles #1 for the second time in four years (she and Krejcikova were co-#1's in '18), and marks the third season in four (w/ Strycova '19) a Czech has been the season-ending doubles #1.

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1. WTAF Final - Garbine Muguruza def. Anett Kontaveit
...6-3/7-5. The first Spaniard in the final since 1993 (ASV), Muguruza is the nation's maiden champion.

While Kontaveit wasn't displaying the "A"-game that got her to Guadalajara, she didn't wander far from contention in the match. But Muguruza always had the *final* answer. After trading breaks early in the 1st set, the Spaniard took the lead by converting her third BP chance of the game to go up 4-3. Two games later, she claimed the set with a lob over the Estonian on SP.

Muguruza ralled from 15/40 to hold for 2-1 early in the 2nd. After leading 40/15, Kontaveit saved BP and held on GP #5 for 3-3, then broke a game later and held to lead 5-3. She served for the set at 5-4, but Muguruza broke back with a forehand down the line. Up 6-5, she finally put Kontaveit away, breaking at love to claim her biggest non-slam crown.

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2. WTA Finals Final - Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova def. Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens
...6-3/6-4. Against an oddly flat Hsieh/Mertens, with the Belgian firing off errors on several key winner-take-all points in the opening set, the Czechs collect their first WTAF title. They held off a late final gasp, as Hsieh/Mertens saved a MP at 5-3 in the 2nd and battled back from 30/love down with Siniakova serving for the title. They held double BP at 30/40, only to see Krejcikova/Siniakova put away the victory on a dual BP/MP at 40/40 (via the "deciding point" format).

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3. WTAF rr Day 1 - Karolina Pliskova def. Garbine Muguruza
...4-6/6-2/7-6(6). Of course, this win didn't help Pliskova get a SF berth over Muguruza despite both having finished 2-1 in round robin play, but it may have been the most exciting match of the week.

After Muguruza rallied from a break down to win the 1st, Pliskova dominated the 2nd with an 89% first serve percentage and three love service games. In the 3rd, with nary a break of serve deep into the set, Muguruza saved two MP and held for 5-5. Pliskova saved a pair of BP a game later, then overcame an early 3-1 deficit in the deciding TB, converting on her fourth MP to win 8-6.



Muguruza's straight sets win over Kontaveit got her into the SF with a 2-1 mark, making Pliskova just the third player since the RR format was instituted in 2003 to go 2-1 but fail to advance. The others were Lindsay Davenport in 2004 and Ana Ivanovic in '14. On the flip side, *eight* 1-2 players have reached to the semis, with two (Radwanska '15, Cibulkova '16) going on to win the title.
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4. WTAF rr Day 6 - Maria Sakkari def. Aryna Sabalenka
...7-6(1)/6-7(6)/6-3. In a battle for the final SF berth, Sabalenka blows a handful of leads and ultimately runs out of gas at the end of a nearly three-hour affair.

The #1 seed served for the 1st at 5-3, and held a SP at 5-4, only to double-fault on back-to-back points in her first serving stint in the TB and go on to lose it 7-1. In the 2nd, Sabalenka failed to convert a pair SP on Sakkari's serve at 5-3, and twice (at 5-4 and 6-5) couldn't serve it out. Finally, on her second BP in the TB she won 8-6 to send things to a 3rd.

Sabalenka took a 3-1 lead in the decider, but after rolling her ankle and increasingly losing control of her shots, Sabalenka didn't win another game down the stretch. She ended the match with 19 double-faults, 10 in the 3rd set alone. Her consecutive DF after holding GP at 3-3 proved to be her final push over the edge of the proverbial "Cliffs of Simona." A DF in the final game put Sabalenka down love/40, and she was quickly broken to end her '21 season on a decidedly disappointing note.

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5. WTAF SF - Garbine Muguruza def. Paula Badosa
...6-3/6-3. In an all-ESP semi, Muguruza's experience proved key.

Badosa had a shot to pull herself into contention in the 2nd, but failed to secure two GP chances and was broken for 2-0, then saw Muguruza hold in an 11-minute game in which she saved three BP. Up a single break at 5-3, Muguruza rallied from love/30 down to serve out the win.

Both Spaniards will finish the season in the Top 10, a first on tour since Sanchez Vicario and Martinez did it for the final time (of 6 occasions) in 2000.

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6. WTAF SF - Anett Kontaveit def. Maria Sakkari
...6-3/3-6/6-3. Kontaveit's proving ground, as the Estonian found a way to win against a surging Sakkari, who'd hit a hot patch after trailing 6-3/3-3 to take the 2nd and go up a break in the 3rd at 3-2.

Despite battling an oft-wayward forehand, Kontaveit pushed back with two consecutive love games to get back on serve and lead 4-3. She then broke the Greek in a long game #8 and served out the win. Bing. Bam. Boom.

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7. WTAF rr Day 3 - Shuko Aoyama/Ena Shibahara def. Nicole Melichar-Martinez/Demi Schuurs 6-4/7-6(5)
WTAF rr Day 5 - Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai def. Shuko Aoyama/Ena Shibahara 4-6/6-3 [10-7]
....Aoyama/Shibahara didn't reach the final, but their RR clashes included a few mini-dramas.

The Japanese duo held six MP before a 2nd set TB vs. Melichar/Schuurs, then took a 4-0 lead in the breaker. Finally, on MP #9, they secured the win.

Stosur/Zhang led 9-1 in the MTB, but Aoyama/Shibahara didn't go away easily, as it took six MP to finally get the win.
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8. WTAF rr Day 6 - Iga Swiatek def. Paula Badosa
...7-5/6-4. On Badosa's birthday, Swiatek avoids 0-3 in her WTAF debut, ending her first complete season in winning fashion.

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=GUADALAJARA, MEXICO=






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*2021 WTA SINGLES TITLES*
5 - Ash Barty, AUS
4 - Anett Kontaveit, EST
3 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
3 - GARBINE MUGURUZA, ESP
2 - Paula Badosa, ESP
2 - Danielle Collins, USA
2 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
2 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2 - Iga Swiatek, POL
2 - Clara Tauson, DEN

*2021 WTA DOUBLES TITLES*
6 - KATERINA SINIAKOVA, CZE
5 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE
5 - Shuko Aoyama, JPN
5 - Ena Shibahara, JPN
4 - Elise Mertens, BEL

=MOST WTA CHAMPIONSHIP/WTAF TITLES=
8 - Martina Navratilova
5 - Serena Williams*
5 - Steffi Graf
4 - Chris Evert
3 - Kim Clijsters*
3 - Monica Seles
2 - Gabriela Sabatini
2 - Martina Hingis
2 - Justine Henin
2 - Evonne Goolagong
-
*-active

=MOST WTA CHAMPIONSHIP/WTAF FINALS=
14 - Martina Navratilova (8-6)
8 - Chris Evert (4-4)
7 - Serena Williams (5-2)*
6 - Steffi Graf (5-1)
4 - Lindsay Davenport (1-3)
4 - Monica Seles (3-1)
4 - Martina Hingis (2-2)
4 - Gabriela Sabatini (2-2)
3 - Kim Clijsters (3-0)*
3 - Evonne Goolagong (2-1)
3 - Amelie Mauresmo (1-2)
3 - Maria Sharapova (1-2)
3 - Venus Williams (1-2)*
2 - Justine Henin (2-0)
2 - Tracy Austin (1-1)
2 - Petra Kvitova (1-1)*
2 - Elina Svitolina (1-1)*
2 - Caroline Wozniacki (1-1)
2 - Mary Pierce (0-2)
-
*-active

=REACHED FINAL IN WTA CHAMPIONSHIP/WTAF DEBUT=
1979 Tracy Austin, USA
1981 Andrea Jaeger, USA
1994 Lindsay Davenport, USA
1996 Martina Hingis, SUI
2001 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2004 Maria Sharapova, RUS (W)
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE (W)
2014 Simona Halep, ROU
2016 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK (W)
2018 Sloane Stephens, USA
2019 Ash Barty, AUS (W)
2021 Anett Kontaveit, EST

=MOST WTA CHAMPIONSHIP/WTAF WD TITLES=
11 - Martina Navratilova
10 - Pam Shriver
4 - Lisa Raymond
3 - Timea Babos*
3 - Cara Black
3 - Lindsay Davenport
3 - Martina Hingis
3 - Liebel Huber
3 - Natasha Zvereva
2 - Margaret Court
2 - Gigi Fernandez
2 - Anna Kournikova
2 - Sania Mirza*
2 - Kristina Mladenovic*
2 - Jana Novotna
2 - Nadia Petrova
2 - Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
2 - Samantha Stosur*
-
*-active

=WTA CHAMPIONSHIP/WTAF WS FINALS=
1972 Chris Evert d. Kerry Reid
1973 Chris Evert d.Nancy Richey
1974 Evonne Goolagong d. Chris Evert
1975 Chris Evert d. Martina Navratilova
1976 Evonne Goolagong d. Chris Evert
1977 Chris Evert d. Sue Barker
1978 Martina Navratilova d. Evonne Goolagong
1979 Martina Navratilova d. Tracy Austin
1980 Tracy Austin d. Martina Navratilova
1981 Martina Navratilova d. Andrea Jaeger
1982 Sylvia Hanika d. Martina Navratilova
1983 Martina Navratilova d. Chris Evert-Lloyd
1984 Martina Navratilova d. Chris Evert-Lloyd
1985 Martina Navratilova d. Helena Sukova
1986a Martina Navratilova d. Hana Mandlikova
1986b Martina Navratilova d. Steffi Graf
1987 Steffi Graf d. Gabriela Sabatini
1988 Gabriela Sabatini d. Pam Shriver
1989 Steffi Graf d. Martina Navratilova
1990 Monica Seles d. Gabriela Sabatini
1991 Monica Seles d. Martina Navratilova
1992 Monica Seles d. Martina Navratilova
1993 Steffi Graf d. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
1994 Gabriela Sabatini d. Lindsay Davenport
1995 Steffi Graf d. Anke Huber
1996 Steffi Graf d. Martina Hingis
1997 Jana Novotna d. Mary Pierce
1998 Martina Hingis d. Lindsay Davenport
1999 Lindsay Davenport d. Martina Hingis
2000 Martina Hingis d. Monica Seles
2001 Serena Williams w/o Lindsay Davenport
2002 Kim Clijsters d. Serena Williams
2003 Kim Clijsters d. Amelie Mauresmo
2004 Maria Sharapova d. Serena Williams
2005 Amelie Mauresmo d. Mary Pierce
2006 Justine Henin-Hardenne d. Amelie Mauresmo
2007 Justine Henin d. Maria Sharapova
2008 Venus Williams d. Vera Zvonareva
2009 Serena Williams d. Venus Williams
2010 Kim Clijsters d. Caroline Wozniacki
2011 Petra Kvitova d. Victoria Azarenka
2012 Serena Williams d. Maria Sharapova
2013 Serena Williams d. Li Na
2014 Serena Williams d. Simona Halelp
2015 Aga Radwanska d. Petra Kvitova
2016 Dominika Cibulkova d. Angelique Kerber
2017 Caroline Wozniacki d. Venus Williams
2018 Elina Svitolina d. Sloane Stephens
2019 Ash Barty d. Elina Svitolina
2021 Garbine Muguruza d. Anett Kontaveit

=WTA CHAMPIONSHIP/WTAF WD CHAMPIONS=
1973 Rosie Casals / Margaret Court
1974 Billie Jean King / Rosie Casals
1979 Francoise Durr / Betty Stove
1980 Billie Jean King / Martina Navratilova
1981 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1982 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1983 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1984 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1985 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1986a Hana Mandlikova / Wendy Turnbull
1986b Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1987 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1988 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1989 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1990 Kathy Jordan / Liz Smylie
1991 Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver
1992 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario / Helena Sukova
1993 Gigi Fernandez / Natalia Zvereva
1994 Gigi Fernandez / Natalia Zvereva
1995 Jana Novotna / Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
1996 Lindsay Davenport / Mary Joe Fernandez
1997 Lindsay Davenport / Jana Novotna
1998 Lindsay Davenport / Natasha Zvereva
1999 Martina Hingis / Anna Kournikova
2000 Martina Hingis / Anna Kournikova
2001 Lisa Raymond / Rennae Stubbs
2002 Elena Dementieva / Janette Husarova
2003 Virginia Ruano-Pascual / Paola Suarez
2004 Nadia Petrova / Meghann Shaughnessy
2005 Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur
2006 Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur
2007 Cara Black / Liezel Huber
2008 Cara Black / Liezel Huber
2009 Nuria Llagostera-Vives / Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez
2010 Gisela Dulko / Flavia Pennetta
2011 Liezel Huber / Lisa Raymond
2012 Maria Kirilenko / Nadia Petrova
2013 Hsieh Su-Wei / Peng Shuai
2014 Cara Black / Sania Mirza
2015 Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza
2016 Ekaterina Makarova / Elena Vesnina
2017 Timea Babos / Andrea Hlavackova
2018 Timea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic
2019 Timea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic
2021 Barbora Krejcikova / Katerina Siniakova

*2021 WTA FINALS*
7 - ANETT KONTAVEIT, EST (4-2-1)
6 - Ash Barty, AUS (5-1)
5 - GARBINE MUGURUZA, ESP (3-2)
4 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (3-1)
4 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (2-2)
3 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2-1)
3 - Clara Tauson, DEN (2-1)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (1-2)
3 - Belinda Bencic, SUI (1-2)
3 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (0-3)
2 - Iga Swiatek, POL (2-0)
2 - Paula Badosa, ESP (2-0)
2 - Danielle Collins, USA (2-0)
2 - Ann Li, USA (1-0-1)
2 - Sorana Cirstea, ROU (1-1)
2 - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (1-1)
2 - Veronika Kudermetova, RUS (1-1)
2 - Elise Mertens, BEL (1-1)
2 - Camila Osorio, COL (1-1)
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (1-1)
2 - Andrea Petkovic, GER (1-1)
2 - Yulia Putintseva, KAZ (1-1)
2 - Alison Riske, USA (1-1)
2 - Gabriela Ruse, ROU (1-1)
2 - Viktorija Golubic, SUI (0-2)

*2021 WTA MATCH WINS*
48 - ANETT KONTAVEIT, EST (48-17)
48 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (48-19)
45 - ARYNA SABALENKA, BLR
44 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE
43 - PAULA BADOSA, ESP
42 - Ash Barty, AUS
42 - GARBINE MUGURUZA, EPS

*2021 WTA DOUBLES FINALS*
7 (6-1) = KATERINA SINIAKOVA, CZE
6 (5-1) = BARBORA KREJCICKOVA, CZE
6 (1-5) = Luisa Stefani, BRA
5 (5-0) = Shuko Aoyama, JPN
5 (5-0) = Ena Shibahara, JPN
5 (4-1) = ELISE MERTENS, BEL
5 (3-2) = Darija Jurak, CRO
5 (2-3) = Demi Schuurs, NED
4 (2-2) = Nadiia Kichenok, UKR
4 (2-2) = Andreja KlepacC, SLO
4 (2-2) = Desirae Krawczyk, USA
4 (2-2) = Nicole Melichar Martinez, USA
4 (2-2) = Raluca Olaru, ROU
4 (2-2) = Ellen Perez, AUS
4 (1-3) = Gaby Dabrowski, CAN
[duos]
6...KREJCIKOVA/SINIAKOVA, CZE/CZE (5-1)
5...Aoyama/Shibahara, JPN/JPN (5-0)
4...Jurak/Klepac, CRO/SLO (2-2)
4...N.Nichenok/Olaru, UKR/ROU (2-2)
4...Melichar/Schuurs, USA/NED (2-2)
3...Bouzkova/Hradecka, CZE/CZE (2-1)
3...HSIEH/MERTENS, TPE/BEL (2-1)
3...Dabrowski/Stefani, CAN/BRA (1-2)
3...Carter/Stefani, USA/BRA (0-3)

*MOST WTA SF in 2021*
8...MARIA SAKKARI, GRE (1-7)
7...ANETT KONTAVEIT, EST (7-0)
6...Ash Barty, AUS (5-0+W)
6...Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (3-3)
6...PAULA BADOSA, ESP (2-4)
5...GARBINE MUGURUZA, ESP (3-0 +WW)
5...Ons Jabeur, TUN (3-2)
 5...Danielle Collins, USA (2-3)
5...Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (1-3+L)

*WTA YEAR-END DOUBLES #1*
1984 Martina Navratilova, USA
1985 Pam Shriver, USA
1986 Martina Navratilova, USA
1987 Martina Navratilova, USA
1988 Martina Navratilova, USA
1989 Martina Navratilova, USA
1990 Helena Sukova, TCH
1991 Jana Novotna, TCH
1992 Helena Sukova, TCH
1993 Gigi Fernandez, USA
1994 Natalia Zvereva, BLR
1995 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1996 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1997 Natalia Zvereva, BLR
1998 Natalia Zvereva, BLR
1999 Anna Kournikova, RUS
2000 Ai Sugiyama, JPN
2001 Lisa Raymond, USA
2002 Paola Suarez, ARG
2003 Paola Suarez, ARG
2004 Virginia Ruano-Pascual, ESP
2005 Cara Black, ZIM
2006 Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur, USA/AUS
2007 Cara Black & Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2008 Cara Black & Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2009 Cara Black & Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2010 Gisela Dulko, ARG
2011 Liezel Huber, USA
2012 Roberta Vinci, ITA
2013 Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2014 Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2015 Sania Mirza, IND
2016 Sania Mirza, IND
2017 Latisha Chan & Martina Hingis, TPE/SUI
2018 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2019 Barbora Strycova, CZE
2020 Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
2021 Katerina Siniakova, CZE

*2021 SLAM-WTAF/1000/OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS*
Australian Open - Naomi Osaka, JPN
Dubai - Garbine Muguruza, ESP
Miami - Ash Barty, AUS
Madrid - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
Rome - Iga Swiatek, POL
Roland Garros - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
Wimbledon - Ash Barty, AUS
Olympics - Belinda Bencic, SUI
Canada - Camila Giorgi, ITA
Cincinnati - Ash Barty, AUS
US Open - Emma Raducanu, GBR
Indian Wells - Paula Badosa, ESP
WTAF - Garbine Muguruza, ESP
[doubles]
Australian Open - Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka, BEL/BLR
Dubai - Alexa Guarachi/Darija Jurak, CHI/CRO
Miami - Shuko Aoyama/Ena Shibahara, JPN/JPN
Madrid - Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
Rome - Sharon Fichman/Giuliana Olmos, CAN/MEX
Roland Garros - Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
Wimbledon - Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens, TPE/BEL
Olympics - Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE
Canada - Gaby Dabrowski/Luisa Stefani, CAN/BRA
Cincinnati - Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai, AUS/CHN
US Open - Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai, AUS/CHN
Indian Wells - Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens, TPE/BEL
WTAF - Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE

*2021 WEEKLY BACKSPIN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK*
Week 1: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
AO Q: Francesca Jones, GBR
Week 2: Ash Barty, AUS
AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN
Week 4: Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
Week 5: Iga Swiatek, POL
Week 6: Petra Kvitova, CZE
Week 7: Garbine Muguruza, ESP
Week 8: Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (2)
Week 9/10: Ash Barty, AUS
Week 11: Veronika Kudermetova, RUS
BJK Playoffs: Magdalena Frech, POL
Week 12: Astra Sharma, AUS
Week 13: Ash Barty, AUS
Week 14/15: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2)
Week 16: Iga Swiatek, POL (2)
Week 17: Coco Gauff, USA
Week 18: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
RG Q: Varvara Lepchenko, USA
RG: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
Week 20: Johanna Konta, GBR
Week 21: Ons Jabeur, TUN
Week 22: Alona Ostapenko, LAT
WI Q: Ana Konjuh, CRO
WI: Ash Barty, AUS
Week 24: Gabriela Ruse, ROU
Week 25: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (3)
Week 26: Danielle Collins, USA
Olympics: Belinda Bencic, SUI
Week 28: Danielle Collins, USA (2)
Week 29: Camila Giorgi, ITA
Week 30: Ash Barty, AUS (5)
Week 31: Anett Kontaveit, EST
US Q: Rebecca Marino, CAN
US Open: Emma Raducanu, GBR
Week 34: Clara Tauson, DEN
Week 35: Anett Kontaveit, EST
Week 36: Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL
Indian Wells: Paula Badosa, ESP
Week 39: Anett Kontaveit, EST
Week 40: Anett Kontaveit, EST (4)
BJK Finals: Liudmila Samsonova, RTF (RUS)
WC Masters: Diede de Groot, NED
Week 42.1: Alison Riske, USA
WTAF: Garbine Muguruza, ESP (2)



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