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Sunday, November 10, 2024

Wk.45- Coco of Arabia







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*WEEK 45 CHAMPIONS*
WTA FINALS; RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (Hard Court Indoor)
S: Coco Gauff/USA def. Zheng Qinwen/CHN 3-6/6-4/7-6(2)
D: Gaby Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe (CAN/NZL) def. Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend (CZE/USA) 7-5/6-3
MIDLAND (MI), USA (WTA 125/Hard Court Indoor)
S: Rebecca Marino/CAN def. Alycia Parks/USA 6-2/6-1
D: Emily Appleton/Maia Lumsden (GBR/GBR) def. Mia Kupres/Ariana Arseneault (CAN/CAN) 6-2/4-6 [10-5]
CALI, COLOMBIA (WTA 125/Red Clay Outdoor)
S: Irina-Camelia Begu/ROU def. Veronika Erjavec/SLO 6-3/6-3
D: Veronika Erjavec/Kristina Mladenovic (SLO/FRA) def. Tara Wurth/Katarina Zavatska (CRO/UKR) 6-2/7-6(4)




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PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Coco Gauff/USA
...clearly, Gauff is an A+ student.

With her sterling 4Q finish, for the second time in two seasons Gauff has initiated a mid-season coaching change and proved to be such a quick and willing learner that she immediately put together career-best bursts of spectacular results with the new voice in her ear.

In Riyadh, Gauff posted wins over both the #1 (Sabalenka, in the SF) and #2 (Swiatek, in rr play for a rare take down of the Pole in the Iga-dominated series) players in the world, then rallied in the final vs. Zheng Qinwen from a set down, a break down in the 2nd, and a break down (twice) in the 3rd to pull away in dominating fashion in a TB to decide the title. She led Zheng 6-0 in the breaker, and put away the second biggest win of her career (after the U.S. Open last year) on MP #5 (2 before the TB, 3 during it).

After going 24-4 (18-1 during the hard court summer) following her switch to coaches Brad Gilbert and Pera Riba (the latter is now w/ Zheng) in '23, Gauff went 13-2 in the 4Q this time around immediately after ditching Gilbert for Matt Daly, winning the Beijing 1000 and now her first WTAF title.



With back-to-back seasons with post-coaching change surges in her back pocket, in 2025 we'll see if Gauff's grade point average can continue to climb after the initial "spark" has subsided. It didn't last time.
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RISERS: Zheng Qinwen/CHN and Barbora Krejcikova/CZE
...Zheng carried her summer/fall/Asian swing surge into Riyadh, reaching the final in the WTAF's desert debut.

After opening with yet another loss to Aryna Sabalenka (the fourth this year), Zheng settled into round robin play with victories over Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini to advance to the semifinals. A win over Barbora Krejcikova assured the 22-year old of another new ranking high (#5), and she seemed well positioned in the final to continue to chip away from the outside in -- slam final, Olympic Gold, WTAF crown? -- toward the most desired titles the sport has to offer.

Zheng took the opening set from Coco Gauff, and held break leads in the 2nd (3-1) and 3rd sets (she served for the match at 5-4), but saw the crown slip through her fingers as Gauff powered her way through the finish with a dominating 7-2 TB win.

Zheng still joins Li Na (2013) as one of just two Chinese women to reach the final at the season-ending championships event, and ends her season on a 31-6 tear (w/ Gold in Paris, titles at Palermo/Tokyo, finals in Wuhan/Riyadh, a Beijing semi and U.S. Open QF) since a 1st Round exit at Wimbledon vs. Lulu Sun.

Krejickova seemed to have little reason to show up in Riyadh. She'd won just 19 matches over the course of the season due to injury (Gauff ended up winning 19 *since* the Czech won Wimbledon, while Zheng clocked 31 victories after SW19), and didn't appear in recent weeks to be particularly prepared to pull a big result out of her tennis bag.

Still, her one brilliant fortnight at Wimbledon had almost come from nowhere, as well, and produced the most cherished title run of Krejcikova's life.

The Czech's inclusion in the field only came about because of a new rule that opened the door to a slam champion who hadn't finish high enough in the points race to make the field (but at least was in the Top 20). After playing with a lingering back injury over the season's final stretch, the Wimbledon champ turned a fortunate turn of events into an opportunity seized.

She burst into her opening round robin match, leading Iga Swiatek 6-4/3-0 before being unable to finish off the Pole. The loss dropped Krejcikova to 0-4 in her WTAF singles career, but she was hardly finished. She finally got on the board with a win over Jessie Pegula (who pulled out of the event with a knee injury afterward) and then defeated Coco Gauff in straights to not only secure a berth in the semifinals (knocking out Iga) but *win* the group (over Gauff, thanks to her taking that 1st set vs. Swiatek).


Playing without a day of rest, the Czech started slowly vs. Zheng Qinwen in the semis, falling behind 6-3/3-0 without seeing a BP chance. She ultimately pushed Zheng in the 2nd, getting things to 5-5 before the Chinese star broke free for the win.

With her two wins and semifinal finish, Krejcikova managed to lift her season-ending ranking from #13 to #10, garnering her second straight Top 10 finish and third in the last four years.

Of course, due to injury and her lack of a regular partnership with Katerina Siniakova, the Czech will also finish with her lowest doubles ranking (#29) since 2017. She finished in the doubles Top 20 every year since 2018, including four times in the Top 3 (#1 in '18).
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SURPRISES: Tina Nadine Smith/AUS and Kari Miller/USA
...the WTA's 125 schedule continues through December, and this week saw some eyebrow-raising results coming from a pair of players whose names (likely) haven't been mentioned too much (if at all) this season.

In Cali (COL), 22-year old Aussie (she also holds Swiss citizenship, and resides there) Smith put on her first big run above the ITF level. The winner of a lone ITF title in 2019, and a three-time challenger finalist in '24 (0-3), #322 Smith reached the semifinals with wins over Aliona Bolsova, Robin Montgomery and Leyre Romero Gormaz before falling to Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu.



Smith will crack the Top 300 and climb inside the Top 280 for the official season-ending rankings release this week.

Meanwhile, in Midland, Michigan, 22-year old Miller found success on familiar ground.

A college star at the University of Michigan, the world #570 -- the winner of her first two pro singles titles in consecutive events in August/September -- made her WTA 125 MD debut, reaching the QF after getting wins over Jamie Loeb (a former NCAA singles champion) and Polina Kudermetova, the latter a tour-level semifinalist last week. Miller saved four MP vs. Kudermetova, then lost a round later to Lesia Tsurenko.



Miller will crack the Top 500 in the new rankings.
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VETERANS: Irina-Camelia Begu/ROU and Rebecca Marino/CAN
...after a late start to her '24 season after sitting out six months following last year's U.S. Open, Begu is finally hitting her stride.

The 34-year old Romanian reached her third 125 final of the season in Cali, Colombia, picking up her second title (the other came in September) after a week that included wins over Emiliana Arango, Anca Todoni and Veronika Erjavec in a 3 & 3 final.

Begu will climb nineteen spots to #83 and finish ranked in the season-ending Top 100 for the eleventh straight season (and 13th in 14).



Marino, 33, continues to have the most productive season of her career. In the Midland 125, the Canadian ran her season win total to a career-best 58 while claiming her fourth title of the season, the biggest she's ever won. Her other three '24 wins, a pair of $100K challengers and a $75K, had already previously stacked up as her three biggest title runs. Her lone tour-level final appearance came some thirteen and a half years ago in 2011.

Marino posted victories over Robin Anderson, Louisa Chirico (from 5-2 down in the 3rd, saving a MP), Alina Korneeva (at 17, almost half her age), Lesia Tsurenko (who reached her first QF of '24... and, yes, she did have multiple MTO on the day in the SF) and Alycia Parks in a 6-2/6-1 final.

Marino, 37-13 dating back to her Nottingham qualifying run and MD victory this summer, will finish at an official season-ending #103.


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COMEBACK: Elena Rybakina/KAZ
...lately, Rybakina's longstanding health issues have come to define her career nearly as much as her powerful serve and groundstrokes. She started off her 2024 WTA campaign looking like a potential Player of the Year candidate, but she ended it this past week in Riyadh by playing in her first tournament since the U.S. Open, having recored just one match win since July 10.

Despite having only been practicing for a short time prior to the WTA Finals, the Kazakh made a good showing. She suffered a pair of round robin losses to Jasmine Paolini and Zheng Qinwen, but played a pair of tight sets vs. the Italian and took the Olympic singles Gold medalist to three sets. Finally, with two matches under her belt, Rybakina notched a win in her return by becoming the first player to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in her second stint in the women's #1 ranking. It's the sixth #1 win of Rybakina's career (all in 2023-24).

Rybakina's new teaming with coach Goran Ivanisevic for 2025 should strike fear in the hearts of opponents, considering Rybakina's serve is already likely second-best to none on tour, yet fellow Wimbledon singles champ Ivanisevic's biggest and best stroke was his own serve, so he'll likely be able to help her tweak things to make it (still) just a tiny bit *better*.

It could be the difference between being a solid #3-5 player on tour and finally contending for the top spot vs. Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, against whom Rybakina is a combined 8-4 the last two seasons. If she can just figure out her health issues and maintain a consistent presence on the court, that is. [Note: Rybakina has played #3 Gauff just once... ever. She lost in their lone meeting in 2022.]


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DOWN: Iga Swiatek/POL
...in her first action since the U.S. Open, and first event with new coach Wim Fissette, Swiatek's slow start ultimately came back to haunt her by the end of the week as the WTAF defending champ failed to advance out of round robin play despite a 2-1 record.

Swiatek immediately fell behind Barbora Krejcikova 6-4/3-0 in her opening round robin match. Though she ultimately rallied to win in three sets (racing to a 5-0 lead in the 3rd), a straight sets loss to Coco Gauff (now 2-11 in the series) in match #2 would go a long way toward sealing her fate (it also officially wrapped up Aryna Sabalenka's season-ending #1 ranking). Even with a dominant 6-1/6-0 win over Dasha Kasatkina (in for an injured Jessie Pegula) in her final rr outing, Swiatek's fate rested in the hands of her first two opponents as Gauff needed to defeat Krejcikova in the final rr match of the week in order for Iga to join Gauff in the semis.



Krejcikova won in straight sets, winning the group because of the set she took off Swiatek in the opening match, and Gauff settled into the second advancing spot while Swiatek's Riyadh adventure ended right then and there.
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ITF PLAYERS: Susan Bandecchi/SUI and Celine Naef/SUI
...the top of the ITF leaderboard this week has a distinctly Swiss feel, as two picked up $75K crowns.

In Ismaning (GER), 26-year old Bandecchi claimed her third '24 title and the biggest of her career, winning a 7-5 3rd set over Ukraine's Daria Snigur in the final.

In Pretange (LUX), 19-year old Naef improved to 7-2 in career challenger finals, picking up her second $75K crown of the season with wins over Dasha Saville and, in the final, Oceane Dodin in a 6-2/6-4 contest.



Naef jumps 36 spots into the Top 175 to become the SUI #3, while Bandecchi climbs 58 to #218.
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DOUBLES: Gaby Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe, CAN/NZL
...with three of the season's four slam winnnig duos -- one one-time pair wasn't in the field, while two others went a combined 1-5 (also, the Olympic Gold medalists failed to make it out of round robin play) -- it was #2-seeds Dabrowski & Routliffe who were the most consistent team in Riyadh as they went undefeated (5-0) and picked up just their second title of the year (the other was at 250 Nottingham).

The duo went 3-0 in rr play, including saving a MP in their second match vs. Errani/Paolini (which proved key to keeping the Italians out of the SF). They got some SF measure of revenge vs. the pair (Melichar-Martinez/Perez) who knocked them out of last year's WTAF semis, reaching the final where Wimbledon champs Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend awaited them.

Siniakova/Townsend had often been brilliant during the week, but also had to save a MP in their first rr match (three of the four WD semifinalists got rr wins after facing MP, in fact) and then had a hard time regaining their momentum after dominating the early going in their SF vs. Chan HC./V.Kudermetova (leading 6-0/4-2, then being forced to a 2nd set TB and feeling relieved to have escaped with the win after converting their 6th MP).

In the final, the CZE/USA team failed to take advantage of second serve returns (winning just 39%), while Dabrowski/Routliffe proved to be at their best on the biggest points en route to a 7-5/6-3 victory.



It's their second-biggest title behind their U.S. Open crown last year (they were RU to Siniakova/Townsend at SW19 this summer), and the win improves the duo's record in finals to 4-5 (2-4 in '24). Routliffe added the Cincinnati 1000 title this summer alongside Asia Muhammad.

It's another big title for Dabrowski's resume, as she's also added two MX slams titles, an Olympic MX Bronze and four 1000 wins in recent years.

Though the lighter of the two when it comes to big career titles, it was Routliffe who spent eight weeks at WD #1 earlier this year, the first New Zealand woman to do so. Dabrowski's career high is #3, where she'll finish 2024 behind #2 Routliffe.

Siniakova, with two major titles (RG/WI) as well as Olympic MX Gold on her title list this season, finishes the year as the season-ending #1 for the fourth time *and* moves into sole possession of 5th place on the career list of weeks at #1 (125 on Monday).
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WHEELCHAIR: Angelica Bernal/COL
...in the week before the Wheelchair Masters pits the sport's top players against one another in a WTAF-style round robin affair, Bernal went about picking up a Series 2 title before making her singles debut next week in the Netherlands-hosted event.

The 29-year old Colombian grabbed her fourth title of the season in Fleury les Aubrais (FRA), putting up wins over Lizzy de Greef, top seed Jiske Griffioen and Zhu Zhenzhen in a 6-0/7-6 final.

Bernal and Zhu combined to win the doubles.


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1. WTAF Final - Coco Gauff def. Zheng Qinwen
...3-6/6-4/7-6(2). For the first time ever, the WTA Finals champion was declared at the conclusion of a deciding tie-break in the final.

With a combined age of 42, the youngest WTAF final since 2004 (Sharapova/S.Williams), Gauff and Zheng battled for three hours, with Gauff consistently playing from behind.

Zheng served for the 1st at 5-3. After leading 30/love, she was forced to save a BP, but held to take the lead in the match. She led 3-1 in the 2nd, as well, only to see Gauff reel off four straight games. Gauff served at 5-3, was broken, but then broke Zheng in the following game to send things to a 3rd.

In the decider, Gauff fell behind love/40 in game 1. She DF'd on Zheng's fourth BP, but managed to erase that break disadvantage, as well as another in the set after Zheng had served for the title at 5-4. Gauff held to lead 6-5, and had a pair of MP on Zheng's serve in game 12.

Zheng saved both MP to force a TB, but Gauff raced to a 6-0 in the first-to-seven format (Coco had to ask the chair umpire, just to be sure). Zheng delayed Gauff's celebration, but on her third MP of the breaker (5th overall) Coco prevailed 7-2 to become the first U.S. winner of the title in a decade (Serena '14).


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2. WTAF rr #1 - Iga Swiatek def. Barbora Krejcikova
...4-6/7-5/6-2. In her first match since the U.S. Open, and first with new coach Wim Fissette, Swiatek rallies against Krejcikova, who entered having split her four meetings with the Pole.

Krejcikova had the belief early on, but not the follow-through late, taking a 6-4/3-0 (one-break) lead before falling in three. The Czech had one final shot to wrest control back in the 2nd set, reaching 30/30 at 5-5 on Swiatek's serve. But a crosscourt backhand winner off the line from the former #1 ended the threat, as Swiatek then broke to tie the match and took a 5-0 lead in the 3rd.



Ultimately, Krejcikova would "get another shot" at Swiatak, albeit via a final round robin match vs. Gauff.
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3. WTAF rr #2 - Coco Gauff def. Iga Swiatek
...6-3/6-4. In a face-off with players trying out new coaches (Iga w/ Wim Fissette, Coco w/ Matt Daly), the latter combo (at least on the surface) proved more of a difference-maker. Gauff's second win in thirteen meetings vs. Swiatek is her first in straight sets (Swiatek won all 22 sets in her 11 wins in the series).

The loss officially ended Swiatek's bid for a third straight #1 season.


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4. WTAF rr #3 - Barbora Krejcikova def. Coco Gauff
...7-5/6-4. With Swiatek's loss to Gauff having opened the door for Krejcikova to advance with a win, the Czech battled through difficulties serving out both the 1st and 2nd sets, but ultimately saved 11 of 12 BP on the day and finally converted on her third MP attempt. With a straight sets win, not only did Krejcikova advance to the semis ahead of Swiatek, but she *won* the whole group.


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5. WTAF rr #3 - Elena Rybakina def. Aryna Sabalenka
...6-4/3-6/6-1. Rybakina closes out her WTAF with just her second win since the Wimbledon QF, joining Swiatek as the only players with multiple victories over Sabalenka in '24 (and she's only played about half the season). It's her sixth career #1 win, behind only Elina Svitolina (7) amongst active players not named Venus (who has 15, whether she's through playing tour-level tennis or not).


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6. WTAF SF - Coco Gauff def. Aryna Sabalenka
...7-6(4)/6-3. Once Iga Swiatek lost in her second round robin match, Sabalenka wrapped up the season-ending #1 ranking. After having been seemingly peerless in Riyadh prior to that moment, Sabalenka seemed to lose her edge and concentration for the remainder of the week.

After a loss in her final rr match to Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka dropped a second straight contest here. Overall the last two seasons, she's a combined 7-5 as the world #1 (she's 104-21 as #2+ the last two seasons).

Sabalenka threatened to get back into the match after falling behind 4-1 in the 2nd, finally breaking Gauff of her eighth BP of game 6, only to then drop her own serve at love a game later. With Gauff serving at 5-2, Sabalenka broke again, but once more couldn't back it up with a hold as Gauff broke to notch her third career #1 win (over three *different* womens's #1s).



Gauff is the first player this year to record wins over both the world #1 and #2 in the same event. It's just the fourth time it's happened this decade, with now three of the occasions involving losses by Sabalenka and Swiatek. The other time the player to get the two wins (over Swiatek and Ons Jabeur) *was* the Belarusian.
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7. WTAF rr #1 - Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend def. Lyudmyla Kichenok/Alona Ostapenko 3-6/6-3 [11-9]
WTAF rr #2 - Gaby Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe def. Jasmine Paolini/Sara Errani 1-6/7-6(1) [11-9]
...the undefeated round robin runs of both WTAF finalist duos included rallies from MP down. Both saved MP in deciding MTB, as Siniakova secured her fourth (third in four seasons) year-end doubles #1 ranking along the way, but Dabrowksi & Routliffe claimed the title.
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8. Midland 125 2nd Rd. - Rebecca Marino def. Louisa Chirico
...6-7(8)/6-2/7-6(7). A 2nd Round tug-of-war in Michigan, as Marino led 5-2 in the 1st set, holding a SP at 6-5 and another two in the TB before Chirico grabbed the match lead.

Come the 3rd, it was Chirico who led 5-2, and served for the match a game later. Marino rallied to also serve for the match at 6-5, only to see the contest head to a deciding TB. Once there, Chirico led 5-3 before the two traded off on MP chances, first Marino at 6-5, then Chirico at 7-6 before the Canadian finally converted on her second MP at 8-7.

Marino went on to win the title on Sunday.
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9. WTAF rr #1 - Aryna Sabalenka def. Zheng Qinwen
...6-3/6-4. Sabalenka improves to 4-0 vs. Zheng in 2024, 5-0 vs. the Olympic Gold medalist since late '23.
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10. Midland 125 Final - Rebecca Marino def. Alycia Parks
...6-2/6-1. Parks loses here, but maintains her ice cold or scalding hot pattern for 2024.

Earlier this season, the Bannerette followed up a career-best slam result (AO 3r) by soon experiencing a horrid 1-15 stretch that she then turned into a 15-1 surge in June/July that included a pair of 125 titles (Gaiba on grass, Warsaw on hard) and Wimbledon qualifying run. Since Warsaw, Parks had 1-4 and 1-5 skids before waking up again this week in Midland with wins over the likes of Caty McNally, Astra Sharma and Lauren Davis to reach her third 125 singles final of the season.
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11. Midland 125 1st Rd. - Varvara Lepchenko def. Marina Stakusic
...6-4/6-7(2)/7-6(3). Stakusic has been a part of some tight, exciting matches in recent weeks, and even won her maiden 125 title. In Midland, she came out on the wrong side of the scoreboard vs. the veteran Bannerette despite holding a big lead in the 3rd.

The Canadian teen led 4-0 in the decider, and twice serve for the win. She held a MP on Lepchenko's serve at 5-3, but the 38-year old (twice the age of her 19-year old opponent) ultimately prevailed in a TB.
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12. Cali 125 Final - Veronika Erjavec/Kristina Mladenovic def. Tara Wurth/Katarina Zavatska
...6-2/7-6(4). After an encouraging start -- a tour-level final in Adelaide, and AO/Dubai 1000 QF -- Mladenovic's doubles season has generally been relegated to teaming with numerous different partners in lesser events (save for a brief late summer stint w/ Zhang Shuai, with whom she reached the Toronto 1000 QF and U.S. Open final).

The Pastry, a former doubles #1, picked up her biggest title of the season alongside Erjavec in the Colombian 125 event, adding it to a pair of ITF wins ($35K and $100K) this year.



Meanwhile, Erjavec also reached the singles final, the biggest of her career, before a loss to Irina-Camelia Begu. She jumps to #173 in the rankings, not far off the career high (#168) she set this spring.
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13. $35K Miami Final - Dasha Vidmanova def. Mayu Crossley
...4-6/6-4/6-1. It's heading toward mid-November, but the "another week, another Crusher champion" theme still applies.

In Miami, the University of Georgia's Vidmanova, 21, won in her fourth straight challenger final appearance this season, rallying from a set down to defeat 18-year old Crossley, who was seeking her maiden pro title.



Vidmanova is 40-7 in pro action in 2024.
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1. WTAF rr #3 - Chan Hao-ching/Veronika Kudermetova def. Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini
...3-6/7-6(3) [11-9]. Errani & Paolini (1-2) failed to make the SF, yet had MP in both of their rr defeats. In the final rr match in Riyadh, the Italians lost in a battle for the remaining SF spot vs. Chan & Kudermetova. They'd held two MP at 5-4 in the 2nd set, and after saving three MP in the MTB saw their journey end on MP #4.

The loss leaves Errani still one short of having collected the six biggest doubles titles in the game. She won a Career Doubles Slam with Roberta Vinci, then Olympic Gold with Paolini this summer. She's reached two WTAF semis, but has still not been able to become the fifth woman to win all six crowns in her career.

The only other women who've done it are Gigi Fernandez and Pam Shriver, both with different partners, and Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova as a duo.
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2. Midland 125 2nd Rd. - Kari Miller def. Polina Kudermetova
...6-3/2-6/7-6(8). On friendly ground in Michigan, Wolverine NCAAer Miller erases a 4-1 3rd set lead by Kudermetova, a tour-level semifinalist in Merida just a week ago.

The Hordette served for the match at 5-3, then later held four MP in the deciding TB before Miller pulled away for the 10-8 win.
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And yet the WTA manages to win the "Lack of Self-Awareness Prize" because, well, of course it does...




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*2024 WTA SINGLES TITLES*
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL = Slam, 1000(4)
4 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR = Slam(2), 1000(2)
4 - Diana Shnaider, RUS = 500,250(3)
3 - COCO GAUFF, USA = WTAF,1000,250
3 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ = 500(3)
3 - Zheng Qinwen, CHN = Oly,500,250

*MOST WTA FINALS in 2024*
7 - Aryna Sabalenka (4-3)
6 - Dasha Kasatkina (2-4)
5 - Iga Swiatek (5-0)
5 - Elena Rybakina (3-2)
5 - ZHENG QINWEN (3-2)
4 - Diana Shnaider (4-0)
4 - Jessie Pegula (2-2)
3 - COCO GAUFF (3-0)
3 - Katie Boulter (2-1)
3 - Danielle Collins (2-1)
3 - Jasmine Paolini (1-2)
3 - Rebecca Sramkova (1-2)

*2020-24 WTA HARD COURT TITLES*
11 - Iga Swiatek (0/1/5/3/2)
10 - Aryna Sabalenka (3/1/0/2/4)
7 - COCO GAUFF (0/0/0/4/3)
6 - Ash Barty (1/3/2 ret)
5 - Dasha Kasatkina (0/2/2/0/1)
5 - Anett Kontaveit (0/4/1/0 ret)
5 - Barbora Krejcikova (0/1/2/2/0)

=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
2024 Zheng Qinwen, CHN

=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
2022 Caroline Garcia d. Aryna Sabalenka
2023 Iga Swiatek d. Jessie Pegula
2024 Coco Gauff d. Zheng Qinwen

=WTA CHAMPIONSHIP/WTAF WD CHAMPIONS=
1973 Rosie Casals / Margaret Court
1974 Billie Jean King / Rosie Casals
1975 Margaret Court / Virginia Wade
1976 Billie Jean King / Betty Stove
1977 Martina Navratilova / Betty Stove
1978 Billie Jean King / Martina Navratilova
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
2022 Veronika Kudermetova / Elise Mertens
2023 Laura Siegemund / Vera Zvonareva
2024 Gaby Dabrowski / Erin Routliffe

*2024 WTAF FIELD - CAREER W/L*
#1 Sabalenka (8-8)
#2 Swiatek (12-4)
#3 Gauff (6-6)
#4 Paolini (1-2)
#5 Rybakina (2-4)
#6 Pegula (4-6)
#7 Zheng (3-2)
#8 Krejcikova (2-5)
-
Alt: #9 Kasatkina (1-3)

*DEFEATED #1 and #2-RANKED PLAYERS IN EVENT - since 2010*
2010 SYD: #5 Elena Dementieva = #2 Safina, #1 S.Williams
2010 WTAF: #4 Kim Clijsters = #2 Zvonareva, #1 Wozniacki
2012 MAD: #9 Serena Williams = #2 Sharapova, #1 Azarenka
2012 WTAF: #3 Serena Williams = #1 Azarenka, #2 Sharapova
2017 CIN: #6 Garbine Muguruza = #1 Pliskova, #2 Halep
2018 CIN: #17 Kiki Bertens = #2 Wozniacki, #1 Halep
2022 WTAF: #7 Aryna Sabalenka (L) = #2 Jabeur, #1 Swiatek
2023 DUB: #30 Barbora Krejcikova = #2 Sabalenka, #1 Swiatek
2023 IW: #10 Elena Rybakina = #1 Swiatek, #2 Sabalenka
2024 WTAF: #3 Coco Gauff = #2 Swiatek, #1 Sabalenka
--
NOTE: all but Sabalenka ('22 WTAF) won title

*2024 DEFEATED #1 SEED & DEFENDING CHAMPION*
Diana Shnaider - Hua Hin [1r-Linette #1, F-Zhu DC] - W
Camila Osorio - Bogota [F-Bouzkova #1, 2r-Maria DC] - W
Elena Rybakina - Stuttgart [SF-Swiatek #1/DC] - W
Elisabetta Cocciaretto - Birmingham [1r-Ostapenko #1/DC]
Eva Lys - Monastir [2r-Mertens #1/DC]
Coco Gauff - WTA Finals [rr-Swiatek DC/SF-Sabalenka #1] - W

*CAREER WTA #1 WINS active*
15 - Venus Williams, USA
7 - Elina Svitolina, UKR
6 - Petra Kvitova, CZE
6 - ELENA RYBAKINA, KAZ
5 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
4 - Belinda Bencic, SUI
4 - Jessie Pegula, USA
4 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
3 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR
3 - COCO GAUFF, USA
3 - Sofia Kenin, USA

*WTA #1 WINS (40) - 2020-24*
6 - ELENA RYBAKINA, KAZ
4 - Jessie Pegula, USA
4 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
3 - COCO GAUFF, USA
2 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
1 - Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS
1 - Paula Badosa, ESP
1 - Jennifer Brady, USA
1 - Danielle Collins, USA
1 - Alize Cornet, FRA
1 - Caroline Garcia, FRA
1 - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
1 - Anna Kalinskaya, RUS
1 - Sofia Kenin, USA
1 - Madison Keys, USA
1 - Petra Kvitova, CZE
1 - Magda Linette, POL
1 - Karolina Muchova, CZE
1 - Linda Noskova, CZE
1 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT
1 - Yulia Putintseva, KAZ
1 - Shelby Rogers, USA
1 - Sara Sorribes Tormo, ESP
1 - Elina Svitolina, UKR
1 - Iga Swiatek, POL
1 - Zheng Qinwen, CHN
[wins-by-nation, 2020-24]
12 - USA
7 - KAZ
5 - CZE
4 - BLR
2 - ESP,FRA,POL,RUS
1 - BRA,CHN,LAT,UKR
--
LOSSES: 24-Swiatek, 11-Barty, 5-Sabalenka

*MULTIPLE #1 WINS IN A SEASON - since 2010*
2010 (2) Samantha Stosur
2011 (2) Dominika Cibulkova, Julia Goerges, Vera Zvonareva
2012 (4) Serena Williams
2012 (2) Maria Sharapova
2013 - none w/ 2
2014 (3) - Alize Cornet
2015 - none w/ 2
2016 (2) - Elina Svitolina
2017 (3) - Elina Svitolina, Caroline Wozniacki
2017 (2) - Garbine Muguruza, CoCo Vandeweghe
2018 - none w/ 2
2019 (3) - Belinda Bencic; (2) Sofia Kenin
2020 - none w/ 2
2021 - none w/ 2
2022 - none w/ 2
2023 (3) - Jessie Pegula, Elena Rybakina
2024 (2) Elena Rybakina





*TOP 10 WTA SINGLES SEASONS*
[all-time]
19 - Martina Navratilova
16 - Serena Williams
14 - Chris Evert
14 - Venus Williams
13 - Steffi Graf
13 - Monica Seles
11 - Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
10 - Lindsay Davenport
10 - Gabriela Sabatini
10 - Maria Sharapova
[2024 season-ending Top 10]
5 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
4 - Iga Swiatek, POL
3 - Coco Gauff, USA
3 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
3 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
3 - Jessie Pegula, USA
2 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ
1 - Emma Navarro, USA
1 - Jasmine Paolini, ITA
1 - Zheng Qinwen, CHN
[active]
14 - V.Williams
8 - Halep, Kvitova, Wozniacki
6 - Ka.Pliskova
5 - Azarenka, SABALENKA
4 - Svitolina, SWIATEK, Zvonareva
3 - GAUFF, Jabeur, KASATKINA, KREJCIKOVA
3 - Osaka, PEGULA, Sakkari
2 - Andreescu, Errani, Garcia, RYBAKINA
1 - Badosa, Bencic, Bouchard, Kenin, Keys,
1 - V.Kudermetova, Muchova, NAVARRO
1 - Ostapenko, PAOLINI, Safarova, Stephens
1 - Vondrousova, ZHENG Q.

*CAREER WTA RANKING HIGHS - CHN*
#2 - Li Na (2014)
#5 - ZHENG QINWEN (2024)
#12 - Wang Qiang (2019)
#14 - Peng Shuai (2011)
#15 - Zheng Jie (2009)

*MOST SINGLES TITLES PER SEASON, SINCE 2010*
2010: 6 - Caroline Wozniacki
2011: 6 - Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki
2012: 7 - Serena Williams
2013: 11 - Serena Williams
2014: 7 - Serena Williams
2015: 5 - Serena Williams
2016: 4 - Dominika Cibulkova
2017: 5 - Elina Svitolina
2018: 5 - Petra Kvitova
2019: 4 - Ash Barty, Karolina Pliskova
2020: 3 - Simona Halep, Aryna Sabalenka
2021: 5 - Ash Barty
2022: 8 - Iga Swiatek
2023: 6 - Iga Swiatek
2024: 5 - Iga Swiatek

*MOST DOUBLES TITLES PER SEASON, SINCE 2010*
[duos]
2024: 4 - Danilina/Khromacheva, Errani/Paolini
2023: 4 - Siegemund/Zvonareva
2022: 3 - Gauff/Pegula, Hozumi/Ninomiya, Krejcikova/Siniakova
2021: 5 - Aoyama/Shibahara, Krejcikova/Siniakova
2020: 4 - Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strycova
2019: 4 - Chan/Chan, Hsieh/Strycova
2018: 3 - Babos/Mladenovic, Mertens/Schuurs
2017: 9 - Latisha Chan & Martina Hingis
2016: 5 - Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza
2015: 9 - Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza
2014: 5 - Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci
2013: 5 - Hsieh Su-Wei & Peng Shuai
2012: 8 - Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci
2011: 6 - Kveta Peschke & Katarina Srebotnik
2010: 7 - Gisela Dulko & Flavia Pennetta
[individual]
2024: 6 - Irina Khromacheva
2023: 5 - Laura Siegemund
2022: 6 - Katerina Siniakova
2021: 6 - Katerina Siniakova
2020: 4 - Hsieh Su-wei, Barbora Strycova
2019: 4 - Chan H., L.Chan, Hsieh S., B.Strycova
2018: 7 - Demi Schuurs
2017: 11 - Latisha Chan
2016: 8 - Sania Mirza
2015: 10 - Martina Hingis, Sania Mirza
2014: 5 - S.Errani, Peng S., R.Vinci
2013: 5 - Hsieh S., S.Mirza, Peng S., K.Mladenovic
2012: 8 - Sara Errani, Roberta Vinci
2011: 6 - Kveta Peschke, Katarina Srebotnik
2010: 8 - Gisela Dulko

*MOST WEEKS AS WTA DOUBLES #1*
237 - Martina Navratilova
199 - Liezel Huber
163 - Cara Black
137 - Lisa Raymond
125 - KATERINA SINIAKOVA (as of November 11)
124 - Natasha Zvereva
111 - Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
110 - Roberta Vinci
[active]
125 - KATERINA SINIAKOVA
87 - Sara Errani
59 - Hsieh Su-wei
39 - Elise Mertens
34 - Latisha Chan
32 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands
18 - Barbora Krejcikova
14 - Timea Babos
12 - Storm Hunter
12 - Kristina Mladenovic
8 - Erin Routliffe
8 - Venus Williams
7 - Coco Gauff
6 - Aryna Sabalenka
6 - Lucie Safarova
3 - Jessie Pegula

*WTA SEASON-ENDING #1s - w/ finish the following season*
1975 Chris Evert, USA (1)
1976 Chris Evert, USA (1)
1977 Chris Evert, USA (2)
1978 Martina Navratilova, TCH (1)
1979 Martina Navratilova, TCH (3)
1980 Chris Evert-Lloyd, USA (1)
1981 Chris Evert-Lloyd, USA (2)
1982 Martina Navratilova, USA (1)
1983 Martina Navratilova, USA (1)
1984 Martina Navratilova, USA (1)
1985 Martina Navratilova, USA (1)
1986 Martina Navratilova, USA (2)
1987 Steffi Graf, FRG (1)
1988 Steffi Graf, FRG (1)
1989 Steffi Graf, FRG (1)
1990 Steffi Graf, GER (2)
1991 Monica Seles, YUG (1)
1992 Monica Seles, YUG (8)
1993 Steffi Graf, GER (1)
1994 Steffi Graf, GER (1)
1995 (co) Steffi Graf, GER (1) and Monica Seles, USA (2)
1996 Steffi Graf, GER (28 = injury)
1997 Martina Hingis, SUI (2)
1998 Lindsay Davenport, USA (2)
1999 Martina Hingis, SUI (1)
2000 Martina Hingis, SUI (4)
2001 Lindsay Davenport, USA (12 = injury)
2002 Serena Williams, USA (3)
2003 Justine Henin-Hardenne, BEL (8)
2004 Lindsay Davenport, USA (1)
2005 Lindsay Davenport, USA (25 = injury)
2006 Justine Henin-Hardenne, BEL (1)
2007 Justine Henin, BEL (retired)
2008 Jelena Jankovic, SRB (8)
2009 Serena Williams, USA (4)
2010 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (1)
2011 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (10)
2012 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (2)
2013 Serena Williams, USA (1)
2014 Serena Williams, USA (1)
2015 Serena Williams, USA (2)
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER (21)
2017 Simona Halep, ROU (1)
2018 Simona Halep, ROU (4)
2019 Ash Barty, AUS (1)
2020 Ash Barty, AUS (1)
2021 Ash Barty, AUS (retired)
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL (1)
2023 Iga Swiatek, POL (2)
2024 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR

*WTA SEASON-ENDING DOUBLES #1s*
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 Natasha Zvereva, BLR
1995 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1996 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1997 Natasha Zvereva, BLR
1998 Natasha 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
2022 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
2023 Storm Hunter, AUS
2024 Katerina Siniakova, CZE





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Annual "Rankings Round-Up" post coming soon...



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