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WTA Finals

WTA Finals In Saudi Arabia Showcase Women’s Issues

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Leading into the final match of the inaugural WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF, the WTA’s philanthropic arm, the WTA Foundation, concluded a week of resounding community impact in Saudi Arabia, both on and off the court. Central to the effort was hosting Championing Women’s Health Together, an educational event attended by Her Royal Highness Ambassador Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud and WTA Legends Marion Bartoli, Daniela Hantuchova, and Martina Hingis. From shaping a bold new vision for women and girls in Saudi Arabia to addressing global health priorities such as maternal and child malnutrition, the event was supported by several regional and global partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Sport, Saudi Tennis Federation, and WTA’s title partner Hologic. 

Leading into the final match of the inaugural WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF, the WTA’s philanthropic arm, the WTA Foundation, concluded a week of resounding community impact in Saudi Arabia, both on and off the court. Central to the effort was hosting Championing Women’s Health Together, an educational event attended by Her Royal Highness Ambassador Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud and WTA Legends Marion Bartoli, Daniela Hantuchova, and Martina Hingis. From shaping a bold new vision for women and girls in Saudi Arabia to addressing global health priorities such as maternal and child malnutrition, the event was supported by several regional and global partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Sport, Saudi Tennis Federation, and WTA’s title partner Hologic. 

Championing Women’s Health Together is one of five major development engagements to take place this year since the WTA Foundation launched its Women Change the Game campaign in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this past International Women’s Day. Uniting the power of women’s tennis and philanthropy to elevate women’s health as a global priority, the event brought together leaders from the tennis, government, healthcare, and sports development sectors. The gathering served as a platform to address critical women’s health challenges faced worldwide and celebrate the broader legacy women’s tennis will leave in Saudi Arabia.

Expert panels discussed a variety of issues including the role of preventative women’s health, the lifelong health benefits of sports for women and girls, the global state of women’s health and maternal nutrition, and the goals of the WTA Foundation’s Global Women’s Health Fund. The fund launched with a $1.5 million donation from Hologic, and focuses on providing prenatal vitamins to at least one million women in low- and middle-income countries in its first year. The resources will be directed to the UNICEF-led Child Nutrition Fund, a global initiative aimed at ending malnutrition. 

The power of prenatal vitamins for women and children in low- and middle-income settings is astounding. When women take prenatal vitamins, it dramatically reduces the risk of stillbirth, infant mortality, and babies being born small and vulnerable, and improves women’s health.

Former Wimbledon champion and WTA Foundation Game Changer, Marion Bartoli, highlighted global advancements in women’s healthcare while acknowledging persistent challenges. “Healthy women are indeed the cornerstone of healthy families, vibrant communities, and prosperous economies—from right here in Saudi Arabia to every corner of the globe,” she said. 

Her Royal Highness Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud emphasized the tournament’s lasting impact, inspiring women and girls through tennis and promoting healthier lifestyles. “The legacy of the WTA Finals Riyadh will resonate for years to come, extending beyond the remarkable athleticism shown by the world’s top female tennis players this week,” she stated. “By hosting the WTA Finals, we aimed to inspire women and girls across Saudi Arabia and beyond to embrace tennis not only as a sport, but as a powerful tool for empowerment and community building. Through initiatives like ‘Championing Women’s Health Together’ and our collaborative efforts with the WTA Foundation and the Saudi Tennis Federation to integrate tennis into schools and communities, we have laid the foundations for cooperation with WTA towards a healthier, more active future both on and off the court.”

Dr. Khaled Alabdulkareem, Assistant Deputy Minister for Primary Healthcare, Ministry of Health, added, “The relationship between sports and healthcare is intrinsic, as an active society is a healthy one. The WTA Finals aligns with our national Vision 2030 ambitions to inspire a healthier, more physically active society. The legacy of the WTA Finals, by inspiring more into tennis, along with today’s discussions highlighting women’s healthcare, are part of achieving our goals.”

Ann Austin, Executive Director of the WTA Foundation, reiterated the organization’s dedication to community development, stating, “The WTA is about changing lives through tennis with its partners around the world, and when we show the world how healthy we can be, we empower an entire generation of young female champions.” 

“Across the world, women are changing the game in their homes, workplaces, and communities every day,” said Dr. Alaa Murabit, Director, Program Advocacy and Communications and Policy, Health, at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “While they lead this work, it’s essential to make their health and wellbeing a priority. Investing in women as game-changers requires ensuring women everywhere have access to proven health and nutrition solutions, which is what Women Change the Game is all about.”

For more information on the WTA Foundation, please visit https://wta.foundation/

For more information on the Women Change the Game campaign, please visit womenchangethegame.com

The History of the WTA Tour Finals

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The WTA Finals, officially known as the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals, has long been one of the most prestigious tournaments in women’s tennis. The event marks the end of the season and showcases the top players, bringing together the world’s elite in an intense, high-stakes battle for the championship title.

Early Beginnings

The WTA Finals began in 1972 as a part of the Virginia Slims Circuit. Originally called the Virginia Slims Championships, the tournament was designed as the season finale, inviting the top women players of the year to compete for glory. The inaugural event was held in Boca Raton, Florida, and Billie Jean King, one of the sport’s early icons and advocates for gender equality in tennis, claimed the first title. Her win was fitting, as King was instrumental in the foundation of the WTA and a relentless promoter of women’s professional tennis.

Evolution and Growth

The 1970s and 1980s saw the tournament move locations frequently, bouncing between Los Angeles, New York, and Oakland. In 1978, the Finals settled in Madison Square Garden, New York, where it stayed for over two decades and became a fixture in the New York sports calendar. This era is often remembered as the golden age of the WTA Finals, with legends like Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles delivering electrifying matches that captivated fans and built a lasting legacy for the tournament.

The format also evolved over time, with changes aimed at increasing competition and fan engagement. Initially a single-elimination event, the tournament adopted a round-robin format in 1984, giving players multiple chances to compete and ensuring fans could watch more of their favorites.

The Global Era

As tennis became a global sport, the WTA Finals took a more international approach. In 2001, after decades in New York, the tournament moved to Munich, Germany, beginning a new era of rotation. Subsequent years saw the tournament hosted in a range of cities, including Los Angeles, Madrid, Doha, Istanbul, and Singapore, bringing the event to fans in various parts of the world.

Singapore became the host city in 2014, where the tournament remained for five years. This marked a pivotal moment for the WTA Finals, as Singapore’s organization brought high production values and introduced the sport to a new generation of fans in Asia. Following this successful stint, the event moved to Shenzhen, China, in 2019, with an unprecedented $14 million prize pool, solidifying its status as the richest women’s tennis event in history.

Iconic Moments and Rivalries

Over the years, the WTA Finals have witnessed some of the most memorable rivalries in the sport. Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert dominated the early years, clashing numerous times and setting the stage for fierce competition. Later, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles showcased their contrasting styles, delivering battles that thrilled audiences worldwide. In recent years, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Simona Halep have been central figures, each bringing unique skillsets and resilience to the tournament.

The event is also known for creating breakout stars. Players like Serena Williams, who holds five WTA Finals titles, used the tournament as a platform to assert their dominance and establish lasting legacies. The Finals have consistently been a place where the next generation can challenge established stars, creating some of the sport’s most dramatic and unforgettable matches.

The Modern WTA Finals

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the tournament’s location schedule, with events in China suspended. However, the tournament continued, reflecting the resilience of both the players and the sport. In recent years, the Finals have spotlighted rising stars, including players like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, who represent the next generation of elite competitors in women’s tennis.

With its rich history, global reach, and high-stakes drama, the WTA Finals remain a pinnacle of achievement in women’s tennis. Its evolution from a small season-ending tournament in Boca Raton to a multi-million-dollar event held in world-class venues across the globe showcases the growth and influence of women’s tennis. The WTA Finals not only celebrate the achievements of the sport’s best players but also embody the spirit and progress of women’s tennis over the decades, building a legacy that continues to inspire new generations of athletes and fans alike.

Caroline Garcia, Mertens-Kudermetova Win WTA Tour Finals

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FORT WORTH, TX, USA – Caroline Garcia and the doubles team of Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova were crowned champions today at the 2022 WTA Finals, with all three players winning the prestigious season-ending tournament for the first time in their careers.

Garcia was making her second appearance in singles at the WTA Finals, and defeated Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(4) 6-4 in the championship match to lift the WTA Finals Billie Jean King Trophy. She is the second Frenchwoman to win the WTA Finals, joining Amelie Mauresmo who triumphed in 2005.

“Today was an amazing final and this season has been an incredible journey,” Garcia said. “A lot of people made this possible for me and have made it a spectacular experience, making me a better player and a better person,” she added.
Kudermetova and Mertens went undefeated to capture their debut WTA Finals crown, defeating top seeds and reigning champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova 6-2 4-6 11-9 in the title match to lift the WTA Finals Martina Navratilova Doubles Trophy.

“The energy was there all week and I’m incredibly proud, we just kept believing,” said Mertens following their win. Kudermetova added: “To go back home with the trophy, as a champion, is such a nice feeling.”

Click here to read more on how Garcia, Mertens and Kudermetova won the 2022 WTA Finals.

Guadalajara Will Host 2021 WTA Finals

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 The WTA announced today Guadalajara, Mexico will host the 2021 season-ending WTA Finals the week of November 8. The prestigious year-end finale, featuring the top 8 singles players and doubles teams on the Porsche Race to the WTA Finals, will be held in Guadalajara this year, with the event returning to its home in Shenzhen, China from 2022 through 2030.

“I would like to extend my appreciation to the Guadalajara tournament organizers and Octagon for their commitment in hosting the event this season and for helping the WTA write another exciting chapter in WTA Finals history,” said Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO. “We are excited to bring our showpiece tournament to the exciting and vibrant city of Guadalajara in this unique year.”

Simon added, “I would also like to express my gratitude to the Gemdale Corporation in Shenzhen for their cooperation and resilience, and we look forward to returning in 2022 to enjoy the WTA Finals over the next decade.”

Guadalajara, a city in western Mexico and the second largest city in the country, is considered the cultural center of Mexico and has hosted various international sporting, film and entertainment events. The city is no stranger to women’s tennis, having also held a successful WTA 250 event in March earlier this year.

“We are delighted to announce the WTA Finals will be coming to Guadalajara this season and it is our immense honor to welcome the top 8 singles players and doubles teams to Mexico for this highly respected event,” said Tournament Director Gustavo Santoscoy. “We look forward to hosting the WTA Finals in 2021 and putting on a world class tournament in November for the millions of tennis fans around the globe.”

Remarking on the home of the WTA Finals, Eddy Liu, Co-Tournament Director of the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen and CEO of Gemdale Sports, stated, “Shenzhen remains honored and committed to the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen and we look forward to welcoming the event back to China in 2022 to build upon the legacy after its first historic staging in 2019.”

Click here for the latest 2021 WTA Tour calendar. Further details on the WTA Finals in Guadalajara will be announced at a press conference in Guadalajara shortly.

Elina Svitolina After Winning WTA Finals in Singapore
Elina Svitolina After Winning WTA Finals in Singapore

A Spotlight on the Upcoming WTA Finals 2019 Participants

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The 49th edition of the WTA Finals sees 2019’s eight top-performing women tennis stars do battle in Shenzhen, China. A prize pool of US$14 million is up for grabs for the inaugural WTA Finals to be hosted in Shenzhen’s Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. It’s become the tenth city to play host to the WTA Finals since its inauguration back in 1972.

Last year, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina upset the form book to claim the 2018 WTA Finals crown, belying her sixth-place ranking going into the event. Svitolina overcame America’s Sloane Stephens in a grueling three-set final that was a fitting end to Singapore’s hosting of the annual event.

This time around, Svitolina has only just squeezed into the top eight and there are some more new names competing to end the year as the top women’s player. Below, we’ll shine a spotlight on all eight qualifiers and assess their respective seasons thus far:

1. Ashleigh Barty

Australian sensation Ashleigh Barty is streets ahead of the rest in terms of WTA ranking points this year. With 6,476 points to her name, Barty came to the fore following her stunning French Open success, securing her inaugural Grand Slam title in Paris against Marketa Vondrousova. Barty also went deep in her home Australian Open, reaching the quarter-finals, as well as fourth round runs in Wimbledon and the US Open.

A naturally talented sportswoman, Barty is a genuine all-court player due to her solid technique and serving ability. Barty has finished the year strong, finishing as a semi-finalist and a finalist in the Wuhan Open and China Open, which has been a big boost to her rankings given that the Asian WTA tour events have become increasingly important later on in the global tennis calendar, with Premier and Premier 5 events scheduled here annually.

2. Karolina Pliskova

Czech ace Karolina Pliskova has also been a dominant force in women’s tennis in 2019. With four WTA tour titles to her name this year, it has been a very solid season to date. Pliskova didn’t really make her mark on any of the Grand Slam events, except a semi-final appearance in the season opener at the Australian Open. Frustrating early exits at Wimbledon and the US Open were tempered somewhat by impressive titles claimed at the Brisbane International, the Italian Open, the Eastbourne International and the Zhengzhou Open.

Now aged 27, Pliskova appears to be at the peak of her powers at present but is yet to have managed a return to the world number-one summit since the summer of 2017. The fast, hard courts should suit Pliskova’s power game in Shenzhen.

3. Naomi Osaka

22-year-old Naomi Osaka is one of the main reasons why tennis in Asia is experiencing a renaissance. The youngster backed up her 2018 US Open title with a second Grand Slam to begin 2019, prevailing at the Australian Open against Petra Kvitova. In doing so, Osaka became the world number-one and the first Asian female tennis player to do so in the history of the sport.

Somewhat surprisingly, Osaka parted ways with her coach, Sascha Bajin after her win in Melbourne. This appeared to coincide with a decline in form, including a dismal first round exit at Wimbledon. Osaka has been vocal about her struggles with her form since the Australian Open, but has ended the year in more positive fashion with title wins at the Pan Pacific Open and China Open.

4. Bianca Andreescu

The 19-year-old Canadian has come out of nowhere to well and truly announce herself on the WTA scene in 2019. Bianca Andreescu became the first player to be born this side of the Millennium to win a Grand Slam singles title, stunning the American public by defeating Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows.

Aside from her maiden US Open crown, Andreescu followed that up with two Premier titles this year too. She won the Indian Wells Premier Mandatory event, entering the tournament as a wildcard and becoming the first wildcard to make the finals in the tournament’s history. Andreescu again overcame Serena Williams in the Rogers Cup final in her own backyard. Although this time Williams was forced to retire hurt. It’s clear however that Andreescu’s hard court game will fare well in Shenzhen.

5. Simona Halep

It looked like being an uncertain start to 2019 for Simona Halep. She ventured to Australia for the opening tournament without a full-time coach. However, the year has been more successful than most predicted – even if those successes may have occurred in the most unlikely fashion. Halep was a clear favorite to win the French Open this year, but the pressure appeared to get to her, losing in the third round to Petra Martic.

However, Halep quickly rebounded from that disappointment to enjoy her best ever grass court season. She won the Eastbourne International without dropping a set, before making the fourth round at Wimbledon. A fourth title of the year at the Zhengzhou Open puts her in reasonable stead for Shenzhen.

6. Petra Kvitova

The physically imposing Czech star began this year like a house on fire, reaching the final of the Australian Open – her first Grand Slam final outside of Wimbledon. Kvitova bagged her second tour title in Stuttgart, before a six-week injury lay-off put paid to the rest of her clay court season. Kvitova has long been very at home on grass but, whilst seeded sixth at Wimbledon, she crashed out in round four to British hopeful, Johanna Konta.

Her persistent arm injury reared its ugly head again prior to the US Open, missing out on the Rogers Cup and then limping out in the second round at Flushing Meadows. However, her Asian swing has been somewhat more promising, reaching semi-finals and quarter-finals at Wuhan and Beijing respectively. Her fitness will again come into question for the WTA Finals.

7. Belinda Bencic

Since her breakthrough year in 2014, injuries have been a major issue for Belinda Bencic. However, 2018 saw her slowly ease back into the world top 50 and 2019 has been even more encouraging. At the US Open, Bencic secured her first-ever Grand Slam semi-final appearance after a straight sets win over Donna Vekic. However, she would eventually fall to the tournament’s eventual winner, Andreescu.

Her best-ever Grand Slam result meant that Bencic would move back into the world top ten for the first time since the middle of 2016. Bencic wasn’t finished there either. In Moscow’s Kremlin Cup, Bencic continued her solid hard court form by overcoming Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a tense three-set encounter to win the title. This effectively secured her enough points to qualify for the WTA Finals ahead of Serena Williams.

8. Elina Svitolina

Ukrainian, Elina Svitolina stunned everyone to emerge as the unlikely winner of last year’s WTA Finals in Singapore. However, 2019 has been somewhat underwhelming by comparison. She suffered quarter-final and third round exits at the Australian and French Open, before reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon, where she was beaten by the eventual champion, Simona Halep.

She fared reasonably well at the US Open, finishing in the last eight, while three successive last eight finishes during the Asian swing has helped Svitolina to inch over the line into the eighth and final spot for the WTA Finals.

 

Petra Kvitova
Petra Kvitova

Surprising Dominika Cibulkova Captures WTA Finals In Singapore – Mondays with Bob Greene

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Mondays with Bob Greene

 

STARS

Dominika Cibulkova beat Angelique Kerber 6-3 6-4 to win the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore in Singapore

Andy Murray beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 7-6 (6) to win the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, Austria

Marin Cilic beat Kei Nishikori 6-1 7-6 (5) to win the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland

Oceane Dodin beat Lauren Davis 6-4 6-2 to win the Internationaux Feminins de la Vienne in Poitiers, France

 

DAVIS CUP

Group 1 Relegation Playoffs

Americas Zone: Dominican Republic beat Barbados 3-2 at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Europe/Asia Zone: Israel beat Sweden 3-1 at Ramat Hasharon, Israel

 

SAYING

“Why do I always get idiots?” – Viktor Troiki, complaining about line calls during his Erste Bank Open match.

“I have no words, coming here for the first time, the biggest tournament of my life. I still don’t know how I won, I put the ball over the net and it went in. It’s the happiest moment of my life.” – Dominika Cibulkova, after winning the season-ending WTA Finals by beating top-ranked Angelique Kerber in the title match.

“I gave everything. I mean, it was a tough year with a lot of matches, so I give everything on court today, the rest (of the) energy I had left.” – Angelique Kerber, following her loss to Dominika Cibulkova.

“I think I played my best tennis today of the tournament.” – Andy Murray, following his straight-set victory over Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in the Vienna final.

“I’m really happy with my week. I played good tennis. I fought until the end, and that’s most important for me. It was nice to play five matches in a row like this.” – Jo-Wilfred Tsonga.

“Finishing the year number one is amazing. It’s a dream come true and gives me motivation and inspiration to come out and work even harder next year.” – Sania Mirza, who will end 2016 ranked number one in the world in doubles for the second straight year.

“I let nerves get the best of me, and I think that happens to everyone. Just something that I need to work on. It’s not a bad thing. It happens to a lot of people. People figure it out. Obviously I’m not the best at it at 21. Hopefully there are a couple more years to figure that out.” – Madison Keys.

“I had a lot of matches, a lot of tough matches – but also a lot of great finals, a lot of great memories (that) I received this year. Of course, now I’m ready for the vacation.” – Angelique Kerber.

“You need to understand that in a Davis Cup tie we are given the kind of support I don’t have during the year. That helps. I’m not complaining; that is just the reality.” – Amir Weintraub, after beating Sweden’s top player, Elias Ymer, to begin Israel’s 3-1 victory over Sweden in their Europe/Africa Group Zone 1 relegation playoff tie.

 

SINGAPORE SURPRISE

Dominika Cibulkova had the worst possible start to her first BNP Paribas WTA Finals. But she had a glorious ending, shocking top-ranked Angelique Kerber to post her biggest career victory. The Slovak right-hander lost her first two round-robin matches, and in order to advance to the semifinals needed to beat Simona Halep in straight sets and have Kerber beat Madison Keys in straight sets. Both happened, and Cibulkova ended up her fairytale season by coming from behind to stop Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semifinals before pulling off her final shocker of the week. “It wasn’t easy to go on the court after two losses, but I was mentally very strong and I knew I played well in the first two matches, I was just a little bit unlucky. Then at the end I was lucky.” Or good. Or both.  Cibulkova dominated the title match from the beginning, finding the answer to every problem posed by her German opponent and winning most of their baseline battles. Her only wobble came at the end when Kerber staved off three match points. That’s when she got lucky. On her fourth match point, her shot clipped the net and fell on Kerber’s side.

Cibulkova joins last year’s champion, Agnieszka Radwanska, as capturing the Finals title after winning just one round-robin match. She also is the first player since Petra Kvitova in 2011 to win the season-finale in her first trip to the elite eight event. And her victory advances Cibulkova to a career-high number five in the WTA rankings.

 

SEEKING TOP SPOT

Andy Murray is moving ever closer to the number one ranking currently held by Novak Djokovic. Murray won the Erste Bank Open to pull within just 415 points heading into the final week of the ATP World Tour regular season. If Murray wins the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris this week and Djokovic does not reach the final, the Scot would overtake his Serbian foe. Djokovic would remain in the top spot if he reaches the Paris final. Murray continued the best season of his career by beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets. But the Frenchman forced Murray to win a second-set tiebreak 8-6. “Jo fought well and started playing a lot better,” Murray said. “He was more aggressive and taking some more chances and making the shots.” Murray’s 14th win over Tsonga in 16 career meeting gave the Scot his career-high seventh title of the year, tying Djokovic. Murray goes into Paris having won 15 consecutive matches, including titles in Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna. His 69 match wins this season is the most on the ATP World Tour. “The last few months have been very good,” Murray said.

 

SWISS CHAMP

Marin Cilic beat Kei Nishikori to win the US Open in 2014. This time the two met in the final of the Swiss Indoors Basel, but the result was the same. The Croatian rode his dominant serve and huge forehand to his 16th career ATP World Tour-level title and second of 2016, having also won in Cincinnati in August. “I knew it going to be important to start well,” said Cilic, who raced through the opening set 6-1 in just 25 minutes. “Obviously it was a big match for me. Being in the final of a 500 tournament against someone like Kei, who has been playing good tennis during the week, I knew it was going to be important to have energy straight away. I was playing well in the first set with my shot-making, and I was serving smart.” Cilic finished with 28 winners, including six aces. Nishikori served his second double-fault of the day on match point. “In the second set I was a little tight,” Nishikori said. “I had a couple set points and couldn’t convert. He played good tennis today.”

 

SANIA ON TOP AGAIN

India’s Sania Mirza has retained her spot as the WTA’s top doubles player for the second straight year. “It’s very, very exciting to finish two years in a row as number one,” Mirza said. “It’s been an incredible year for me again with seven WTA titles, a Grand Slam and ending the year at the WTA Finals in Singapore.” It wasn’t easy, however. Mirza barely edged out Bethanie Mattek-Sands. The American could have wound up with the year-end number one doubles ranking if she and Lucie Safarova had won the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore. But they lost the title match to Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 7-6 (5) 6-3. Mirza won eight titles with three different partners in 2016, capturing her third Grand Slam tournament trophy at the Australian Open with Martina Hingis. Mirza began a new partnership with Barbora Strycova by winning in Cincinnati in August and at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. She also won the Connecticut Open in 2016 with Monica Niculescu.

 

SANS RACQUETS

Britain’s Dan Evans was ready to play his opening round of qualifying at the Paris Masters against Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic. But the 26-year-old Evans had to withdraw from the event because his racquets failed to make it to France. “I had to pull out of Paris qs (qualifiers) as my racquet bag never made it to Paris from Birmingham (Great Britain), so basically I had a day trip to Paris,” Evans said. Despite not being able to play in Paris, Evans will end 2016 ranked 60th in the world, his highest end-of-year ranking in his career.

 

SET FOR LONDON

Gael Monfils has qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for the first time in his career. The Frenchman joins Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori in the select eight-man singles field. “It feels great to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time in my career,” Monfils said. “It is a great way to finish my best season on the tour and I look forward to competing against the other best players of 2016. I heard a lot of great things about the event, every match is like a final, and I always love to play on a big stage.” Monfils, however, will miss this week’s Paris Masters. He pulled out of the tournament with a rib injury.

The doubles team of Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram will be making their first appearance at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Others who have qualified for the doubles competition include Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez, and Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo.

 

SETS ANOTHER MILESTONE

The Bryan brothers – Bob and Mike – have won 1,000 doubles matches, nearly twice as many as any other team in the Open Era. “Very few players will achieve it,” Nenad Zimonjic of the Bryans’ record. “In the next 100 years, you’ll still be counting on one hand. Their longevity and number of titles will be so tough to break.” The American twins won their first match in 1998, beating Mark Keil and Dave Randall at Atlanta, Georgia, USA.  Their 1,000th match win came over Pablo Cuevas and Viktor Troicki in the Erste Bank Open quarterfinals in Vienna, Austria. Hall of Famers Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde have won the second-most matches as a team, 508. “They force opponents to ‘beat’ them and most of all they believe,” Woodforde said of the Bryans. “Bob has the big lefty serve, Mike has the solid and consistent return. They help each other out at net, they have great reflexes, they can play on the baseline and they can switch sides if necessary.”

 

SAID WHAT? 

Viktor Troicki took a page out of the John McEnroe book on on-court etiquette. The Serb may have even written a new chapter. Trailing Kevin Anderson in the first set of their first-round match at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, Austria, Troicki erupted when a ball off the South African’s racquet was called in. Troicki screamed and paced around the court for over a minute before returning to the baseline to serve. “Why do I always get idiots?” he screamed. “This is incredible. … Why do I always get this? … Why does this always happen to me? I’m going crazy over here. What’s wrong with you?” Despite his irritation with the officiating, Troiki won the match 4-6 7-6 (5) 7-5.

 

SUSPICIOUS

Tennis has resulted in more suspicious betting alerts than all other sports combined, according to the European Sports Security Association (ESSA). The organizations aid 31 of the 37 alerts it received in the third quarter concerned tennis. Soccer was second with three alerts. Suspicious betting patterns can be an indication of match fixing, but can also occur for other reasons, such as injury or inside knowledge by bettors. ESSA represents most of Europe’s largest betting companies.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Basel: Marcel Granollers and Jack Sock beat Robert Lindstedt and Michael Venus 6-3 6-4

Poitiers: Nao Hibino and Alicja Rosolska beat Alexandra Cadantu and Nicola Geuer 6-0 6-0

Singapore: Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova 7-6 (5) 6-3

Vienna: Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo beat Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin 4-6 6-3 13-11 (match tiebreak)

 

SURFING

Singapore: www.wtafinals.com/

Basel: www.swissindoorsbasel.ch/de-de/

Vienna: www.erstebank-open.com/de/

Davis Cup: www.daviscup.com

Paris: www.bnpparibasmasters.com/

Zhuhai: www.wtaelitetrophy.com/

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

MEN

$4,681,802 BNP Paribas Masters, Paris, France, hard

$125,000 Ea Hua Hin Open Challenger, Hua Hin, Thailand, hard
WOMEN

$2,214,500 WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, Zhuhai, China, hard

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$100,000 Internationaux De Tennis De Vendee, Mouilleron Le Captif, France, hard

WOMEN

$115,000 WTA Ea Hua Hin Championship 2016, Hua Hin, Thailand, hard

Dominka Cibulkova Wins Singapore
Dominka Cibulkova Wins Singapore

Agnieszka Radwanska Captures WTA Finals Singapore, Roger Federer Wins Basel – Mondays with Bob Greene

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Mondays with Bob Greene

 

STARS

Agnieszka Radwanska beat Petra Kvitova 6-2 4-6 6-3 to win the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore in Singapore

Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 6-5 5-7 6-3 to win the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland

Joao Sousa beat Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6 6-3 6-4 to win the Valencia Open in Valencia, Spain

Hsieh Su-Wei beat Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (5) 2-6 6-2 to win the $100,000 Nanjing ITF in Nanjing, China

Thiemo de Bakker beat Victor Estrella Burgos 7-6 (1) 4-6 6-3 to win the Monterrey Open in Monterrey, Mexico

Monica Niculescu beat Pauline Parmentier 7-5 6-2 to win the Internationaux Féminins de la Vienne in Poitiers, France

 

DAVIS CUP

Group I Second-round Playoffs

Americas Zone: Barbados beat Uruguay 3-2 at St. Michael, Barbados

Europe Africa Zone: Sweden beat Denmark 3-2 at Slagelse, Denmark; Slovenia beat Lithuania 5-0 at Kranj, Slovenia

 

SAYING

“It means everything. It couldn’t be any better. I think that was the biggest day in my life.” – Agnieszka Radwanska, after winning the season-ending BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore

“I think I played really well in the second (set) when I came back and tried to push her a little bit and tried to play my game and not make the mistakes I had in the first set. I just couldn’t really continue in the third and I think Aga played a little bit better at the end of the third set as well.” – Petra Kvitova.

“After all the matches and big finals we’ve played over the years, to have a final here in Basel was amazing for the crowd and for me personally. To come through and win was very special.” – Roger Federer, following his victory over Rafael Nadal in the Swiss Open final.

“He played too well and I didn’t play bad either. It was a positive final for me – I lost but I was very close to the win.” – Rafael Nadal.

“It’s incredible. I feel like it was a perfect day. – Martina Hingis, after she and Sania Mirza won the doubles in Singapore.

“On court, off court, we have a lot of fun. To play in tournaments like this is what we’ve fought all our lives for and it’s incredible to play in front of a packed stadium. We feel very fortunate. We’ve done some amazing things together and it’s the perfect way to end the year for us.” – Sania Mirza.

“I was done. No energy anymore. I was tired.” – Simona Halep, after losing her second straight round-robin match in Singapore.

“I think I’m making better choices … wait for the perfect ball to really attack. You have to be aggressive, but in a good way, making good choices.” – Garbiñe Muguruza.

“It’s always tough to sit after a match and say you’re happy, especially after you lose it. But it would be quite unprofessional of me to not take a lot of positives out of this week.” – Maria Sharapova, after losing her semifinal match following a 3-0 round-robin record.

“I feel weird. It’s really tough to describe.” – Petra Kvitova, explaining her lethargic play in her first round-robin match.

“Well, I feel like everyone else on tour: I work hard, I give my best. As long as you continue to work and believe in yourself, you’re going to have results.” – Venus Williams, who played her first WTA match in October 1994 – 21 years ago.

“Actually I think I had a good year this year. Ups and downs, but it was OK. I will finish number two or three in the world, so it’s pretty good for me.” – Simona Halep.

“It’s never been the easiest road, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not a road worth travelling.” – Venus Williams.

 

SWISS MAESTRO

After 3½ years, it was finally Roger Federer who came out on top. Federer beat arch-rival Rafael Nadal for only the 11th time in their 34 meetings, but this one came on Federer’s home court in Basel, Switzerland. “This was my best victory in Basel, considering everything I’ve done throughout my career here,” said Federer, who won the Swiss Open for a seventh time. “It was a big match for me, probably more than for him.” Federer and Nadal last met in the Australian Open semifinals nearly two years ago and played their last final in Rome in 2013. It was Federer’s first win over Nadal since Indian Wells, California, USA, in 2013 and snapped a five-game Nadal string. The victory was Federer’s 88th and boosted his season record to 58-9. Despite the loss, it was one of the year’s best performances by the left-handed Spaniard. “A few small things made the difference, like one game in the third set,” Nadal said. “I was not very far away … Losing on the surface where I’ve only beaten Roger once, and playing well at his home is all good news for me. My goal is to be competitive against the top players again.” Basel is the fifth tour event at which Federer has won at least seven times. He has won eight career titles at Halle, Germany, and seven at Wimbledon, Basel, Cincinnati and Dubai,

 

SINGAPORE STAR

Playing almost flawless tennis, Agnieszka Radwanska finished the year by winning the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, outlasting Petra Kvitova in the finale. “A few weeks ago I didn’t even know I would be here,” Radwanska said in the courtside interview. She became the first player in history to capture the crown after compiling a 1-2 record in the round-robin portion of the event, losing to Maria Sharapova and US Open champion Flavia Pennetta. But by beating top-seeded Simona Halep and getting help from Sharapova, Radwanska made it to the semifinals where she upset Garbiñe Muguruza in three sets. Then came Kvitova, who knocked off Sharapova in the semifinals. “I was doing the right thing in the important moments of a really close match,” Radwanska said of her victory over her Czech opponent. “I had my chances in the second set, but it doesn’t really matter how I won. It means the world to me.” Playing a stellar counter-punching game, Radwanska built a 6-2 2-0 lead before Kvitova found the range. The left-hander then won eight of the next 10 games to level the match at a set apiece and build a 2-0 led in the deciding set. Radwanska, however, went on streak of her own, winning six of the next seven games to capture the title.

 

SOUSA TRIUMPHANT

Portugal’s Joao Sousa won his second career ATP World Tour title by stopping Roberto Bautista in the Valencia Open final. It was Sousa’s first title in four final appearances this year. “I’ve been based in Spain since I was 15 years old, so in a way I feel a bit at home here and it’s great to be able to win this title here and in front of my family, who I had no idea was going to come,” Sousa said. “They drove 10 hours from Portugal to be here today.” Bautista Agut, playing in front of his home crowd, lost in the final for the second straight week. He also was runner-up a week ago in Moscow. “I was playing very well, a set and 3-2, had a ball for 4-2 in the second,” the Spaniard said. “Unfortunately my intensity went down and I was very tired in the third set. … It’s been a long season and obviously this has affected my performance today.”

 

SENT PACKING?

According to the tournament director, Juan Carlos Ferrero, the Valencia Open will not be held next year because of a dispute between the organizers of the indoor hard court event and the regional government. Ferrero, who won the French Open in 2003, said his group was considering renting or selling to another city the license for the event, which has been held annually since 2003. “We feel we have been deceived,” Ferrero said. “In 2014, there was an accord with the previous administration and it was not honored and we feel deeply deceived by the new government. It’s not state aid or a subsidy. It’s a commercial agreement, an accord that benefits the administration financially. This tournament was a gift for the Valencia residents, but we have to move on. I am very upset. It was me who bought the tournament many years ago with the understanding it would have a future.”

 

SET FOR BOTH

Andy Murray says he plans on playing the World Tour Finals in London and the Davis Cup final against Belgium. There had been rumors that Murray might skip the elite eight-player event because it is played on a different surface than the one being used when Great Britain takes on Belgium the following week in the Davis Cup final. “My intention is to play at the O2,” Murray said, referring to the London arena. Murray is playing this week at the Paris Masters, which will be played on a similar hard court as to that used in the ATP World Tour Finals. The Davis Cup final will be played on clay. Murray said he intends to train on both hard court and clay in the next two weeks.

 

SANIA AND MARTINA

They are ranked number one in the world and were officially crowned the best doubles team in 2015. Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza showed why when they easily won the doubles at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore, dominating Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suárez Navarro 6-0 6-3. Now unbeaten in their last 22 matches, Hingis and Mirza have won nine titles since teaming up earlier this year. “Sania just played out of her mind. She was everywhere today – on her side, behind me,” Hingis said. “It’s about choosing the right partner.” It was Mirza who unleashed a forehand to break Muguruza in the second game of the match. And a backhand volley by Mirza was the key to another service break.

 

SHARAPOVA IS BACK

Maria Sharapova was just happy to be back playing again. And she made a big impression at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore, rolling through the round-robin portion of the year-ending event undefeated before falling in the semifinals to Petra Kvitova. “I was able to play quite physical matches and get through them,” said Sharapova, who was playing for the first time since Wimbledon. “I think that was something that I wasn’t sure of coming into this week because I hadn’t played a lot.” The Russian, sidelined with leg and arm ailments, saw her ranking drop for second in the world to number four. Yet some observers felt she was the player to beat since top-ranked Serena Williams had skipped the elite event because of her own ailments. “I didn’t have expectations coming into this week,” Sharapova said. She led 5-1 in the second set before Kvitova ripped five straight games and won 6-3 7-6 (3). “I felt like I took my foot off the gas,” Sharapova said. “I gave her more time, more angles, and she took advantage.”

Sharapova and Kvitova will more than likely meet again next week when Russia travels to the Czech Republic for the Fed Cup final.

 

STRUGGLING SIMONA

Simona Halep says she simply ran out of energy at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore. Top-seeded in the year-ending tournament because of the absence of top-ranked Serena Williams, Halep lost in straight sets to eventual champion Agnieszka Radwanska 7-6 (5) 6-1, her second round-robin loss and ending her bid for the title. Halep led the tiebreak 5-1, only to have Radwanska win the next six points and the set. “I felt that I lost the chance to win the first set and probably I lost the chance to win the match in that moment,” said Halep. “My coach was telling me many things, but I couldn’t hear because I was done and I was very nervous there. But, you know, it’s good that happened. Next time I will know that if I’m not well-prepared physically, I have just to do something else on court.” While Halep won the biggest title of her career at Indian Wells, California, USA, in May, she suffered a second-round loss at the French Open, which the Romanian said was the biggest disappointment of her year. “I’m happy with my year,” she said. “I just want to take the holiday now. I don’t want to think about tennis anymore. Then I will be stronger.”

 

STOPPING SOMETIME

According to Flavia Pennetta, losing to Maria Sharapova at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore was the “perfect: way to end her career. Of course, the 33-year-old Italian announced her retirement when she won the US Open in September. That made her the oldest first-time Grand Slam tournament winner. Then she played in order to gain enough points to qualify for the elite eight-player field in the season-ending event. But after losing to Sharapova, she told reporters: “Right now I feel like it’s not my last match. I feel normal completely. I don’t know why. Maybe in a few days I will feel more the difference. Right now it’s so far so good.”

 

SUPERB SENIORS

Martina Navratilova is still a champion. The veteran left-hander won the WTA Legends Classic, defeating fellow Legends Tracy Austin, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario and Marion Bartoli in an innovative doubles format. Although Navratilova tied Sánchez-Vicario and Austin in matches on and lost, the American won the most games of the week. Other legends participating in activities during the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore tournament were Mary Pierce and Li Na.

 

SIGNED UP

The 2016 Hopman Cup field will have its highest-ranked field yet. The women’s top-ranked player, Serena Williams, and men’s world number two, Andy Murray, both have agreed to play in the exhibition. Eight players will be making their Hopman Cup debut: Gael Monfils and Caroline Garcia for France; Nick Kyrgios representing Australia; Alexandr Dolgopolov and Elina Svitolina for Ukraine; Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic; Alexander Zverev of Germany, and American Jack Sock. For the first time in Hopman Cup history, Australia will field two teams in the January 3-9 competition. The field includes: Australia Gold: Lleyton Hewitt and Casey Dellacqua; Australia Green: Kyrgios and a female player to be announced; Czech Republic: Vesely and Lucie Safarova; France: Monfils and Garcia; Germany: Zverev and Sabine Lisicki; Great Britain: Murray and Heather Watson; Ukraine: Dolgopolov and Svitolina; and the United States: Serena Williams and Sock.

 

STEPPING UP

As expected, Lleyton Hewitt is the new captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team. The two-time Grand Slam tournament champion and former world number one is taking over for interim skipper Wally Masur. Hewitt will retire after playing in his 20th consecutive Australian Open in January. The 34-year-old will become the youngest Australian Davis Cup captain since World War II. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work under some of the greatest Davis Cup captains in history,” said Hewitt, who played in 40 ties over a record 17 years. His captains included Australian tennis greats Neale Fraser, John Newcombe and Pat Rafter. “For me, it’s about instilling my experience in these younger guys,” said Hewitt, who will lead a team that includes Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis.

 

SAD NEWS

Patricia Canning Todd, who won four Grand Slam tournament titles in the 1940s, is dead at the age of 93. Her son, Whitney, confirmed Todd died in September in Encinitas, California, USA. Todd won the singles at the French Championships in 1947, defeating Doris Hart. The two then teamed to win the Wimbledon doubles that year.  In 1948, Todd reached the semifinals at Paris only to be disqualified for refusing to play on an outside court. “I told the committee yesterday I would play only on center court,” Todd was quoted as saying by United Press. “I’m the defending champion, and I don’t see why I can’t play in center court instead of another women’s singles match.” The French Lawn Tennis Association declared that Todd had forfeited the match to Nelly Landry of France, who went on to win the title. Despite the disqualification, she won the French women’s doubles with Hart and the mixed doubles with Jaroslav Drobny. She also reached the final in Paris in 1950, losing to Hart. Born in San Francisco, California, Mary Patricia Canning met Richard Bradburn Todd while playing at the United States Nationals in Forest Hills, New York. They married on Christmas Day 1941 and Todd gave birth to their daughter Patricia in 1943. She was married and a mother for most of her professional career, a rarity in the 1940s and 1950s. In addition to her son, she is survived by her daughter, Patricia Higley, a grandson and a great-grandson.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Basel: Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares beat Jamie Murray and John Peers 7-5 7-5

Monterrey: Thiemo de Bakker and Mark Vervoort beat Paolo Lorenzi and Mark Vervoort by walkover

Nanjing: Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi beat Chan Chin-Wei and Zhang Kai-Lin 7-5 6-7 (7) 10-7 (match tiebreak)

Poitiers: Andeea Mitu and Monica Niculescu beat Stephanie Foretz and Amandine Hesse 6-7 (5) 7-6 (2) 10-8 (match tiebreak)

Singapore: Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza beat Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suárez Navarro 6-0 6-3

Valencia: Eric Butorac and Scott Lipsky beat Feliciano Lopez and Max Mirnyi 7-6 (4) 6-3

 

SURFING

Paris: www.bnpparibasmasters.com/

 

Zhuhai: www.wtaelitetrophy.com/

Hua Hin: http://worldtennisthailand.com/

Bratislava: www.stz.sk/

Fed Cup: www.fedcup.com

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$4,219,260 BNP Paribas Masters Paris, Paris, France, hard

$125,000 World Tennis Thailand Championships, Hua Hin, Thailand, hard

 

WOMEN

$2,150,000 Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, Zhuhai, China, hard

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$100,000 Peugeot Slovak Open, Bratislava, Slovakia, hard

 

FED CUP

Nov. 14-15

(Final)

Czech Republic vs. Russia at Prague, Czech Republic, hard

 

Agnieszka Radwanska
Agnieszka Radwanska