2024 WTA News & Gossip

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yeah, I really like the Mirra pick (definitely in my Top 5 favorites to win it all). She has the potential to be the next great player in the women's game. It's only a matter of time before she has her breakthrough moment. Mirra's year at the slams almost mirrors Coco's first 3 slams in 2023 before winning the US Open:

Coco 2023: AO 4R, FO QF, W 1st round
Mirra 2024: AO 4R, FO SF, W 1st round

Mirra is talented though at 17 yo she is till restricted on how many tournaments she can play she wont turn 18 till next year
Mirra at present plays a 'fearless type of tennis' though lets see when she comes on full time on the tour if can still maintain that type of 'fearlessness' at present she can come out 'swinging' against any player, like she did against Iga on a HC in Cincinnati, and made Iga really work for the win, though I still think it still very premature to say she will win it all,
Lets see when she turns 18 and plays the tour full time and see her results, there are a lot of youngsters on the tour at present that have potential, I prefer to wait and see how their develop. Putting too much pressure on them only causes high expectations to achieve at a young age and burn out can be a problem, both mentally and physically.
I also feel Coco who has been on the tour at such a young age is going through 'burn out' at present, she is not enjoying her tennis at all, her poor results speak for themselves, she is getting too emotional, left the court in tears at her last match against Poots, didnt do a press conference, I honestly feel there is something going on in Coco's life outside tennis and it is affecting her 'big time' on the tennis court.It also wold not surprise me if she parts with Brad Gilbert as her coach, maybe Coco needs to take time off the tour and reset, as she is too good of a athlete, to continue the way she is at present.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Belgium player Alison Van Uytianck has announced her retirement, 14 years professional career.
5 WTA titles
19 ITF Titles
2 WTA Doubles Titles
Happy retirement Alison!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

For the life of me why is Leylah Fernandez playing the Cleveland tournament?
Leylah had good results in singles at Cincinnati and just played in the Ladies Doubles Final yesterday at Cincinnati with Poots they lost in 3 sets. Just Madness before tthe USO!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The Ladies Singles Final at Cincinnati will begin shortly
Good luck to both Aryna and Jess!
Player doing their warm up now!
Aryna won the toss and will serve first

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

A great serving display from Aryna 80% first serve percentage and 6 Aces and she wins the 1st set 63 over Jess, having such a good first serve on any surface is just free bonus points.

 

[Hoergren]

Cleveland first round Schmiedlova against Tauson. Didn't look promising in first set but the diesel worked and Clara took the last two sets in a lot better way - yeah she actually played well in the last 1½ set

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Cleveland first round Schmiedlova against Tauson. Didn't look promising in first set but the diesel worked and Clara took the last two sets in a lot better way - yeah she actually played well in the last 1½ set
View attachment 9665

Clara not playing qualies for the USO

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Wow Aryna has just lost 4 points on her serve all match so far, leading 4-2 in the 2nd set
When Aryna is serving like this not much Jess can do about it, or any opponent for that mattter, she is 'On Point' today with her serve
Remember a couple of years ago her serve was just dreadful she had the worst record for DFs in the WTA, she employed a serving mechanic engineer specialist and really hasnt looked back, she always had the makings of a really good serve, though I think her mental state at times got in the way

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Of course the minute I say Aryna and her serving. she gets tight and loses her bloody serve LOL! serving for the match

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Okay Aryna broke straight back let see if she can serve for the match a 2nd time at 6-5

 

[don_fabio]

Of course the minute I say Aryna and her serving. she gets tight and loses her bloody serve LOL! serving for the match

Nerves got the better of her, but she broke Pegula right after. She's too strong and will win here. Incredible serving from Saba before she served for the match.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well done to Sabalenka who won the Ladies Singles title at Cincinnati defeating Pegula 63 75


Aryna didnt lose a set all tournament, best I have seen her play since her shoulder injury she will take soo much confidence from this win into the USO where she will be of the the favorites
That was Aryna's 6th WTA 1000 title!
15th Career title
1st title at Cincinnati

Well done to Jess who made back to back finals, winning Toronto, and being RU today, again she will take confidence into the USO

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Those vases they give as trophies are just Ugly at the Cincinnati Open, I understand they come from a local who makes the vases, still..................

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA Top Ten ( after Cincinnati) Monday 19th August,

1. Swiatek 10,695 points
2. Sabalenka 8016 (+1)
3. Gauff 6743 (-1)
4. Rybakina 5,931
5. Paolini 5198
6. Pegula 5160
7. Zheng 3990
8.Krejcikova 3572 (+1)
9. Sakkari 3517 (-1)
10. Ostapenko 3478 (+1)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

New Career Highs on WTA Top 100, Monday 19th August,

18. Kalinskaya
18. Shnaider
21. M.Andreeva
46 Townsend
52 Avanesyan
61 Krueger
98 Kessler

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

US Open Draw,
Singles on Thursday 22nd August at 12pm
Doubles draw Sunday 25 August at 12pm

 

[Hoergren]

Siniakova the #3 seed in Cleveland is behind against #283 and is quite frustrated over the loss of first set which went to Ishii from Japan 7-6
And as expected Siniakova takes the second set 6-3 and a decider awaits us and what a decider here standings before it turned

And after a real battle

Stats after 2h 48 m

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I still cant believe Fernandez is playing in Cleveland tournament after doing well in singles and making the finals of the doubles in Cincinnati
Leylah is also playing doubles with her sister, she is going to be one tired tennis player before the USO

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Fernandez v Bogdan going 3 sets
Leylah won the 1st set easily 61, then lost a TB 76(2)
Looks like Leylah has run out of steam in the 3rd se down 1-5
Bogdan wins 16 76(2) 62, quite frankly this is a blessing in disguise for Leylah, she really needs a rest before the USO

 

[kskate2]

Fernandez v Bogdan going 3 sets
Leylah won the 1st set easily 61, then lost a TB 76(2)
Looks like Leylah has run out of steam in the 3rd se down 1-5
Bogdan wins 16 76(2) 62, quite frankly this is a blessing in disguise for Leylah, she really needs a rest before the USO

Maybe she didn't want to withdraw, so she took the graceful exit. I'm sure she made plans to play that because she had no idea she would go that far in Cinci