2024 WTA News & Gossip

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA1000 Beijing
QFs Wednesday October 3rd

P. Badosa (15) vs S.Zhang
C.Gauff (4) vs Y.Starodubtseva

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Paula Badosa was ranked #140, and in 4 months is back in the Top 20, has won 28 of her last 35 matches, and is into her 3rd SF in her 5 past tournaments which is a fine testament for her, when she was seriously considering retirement due to back fractures in her back earlier this year.
Badosa d WC Zhang Shuai who found some singles form in Beijing, Paula proved too strong 61 76(4)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Qualifier Yulia Starodubtseva wins the 1st set 62 over Coco Gauff, whose service woes continue sad to say 7 DF and her 1st serve percentage is at 43% with a lot of UFE,, we cant expect the new addition to her coaching team Daly to work miracles over night, hoping the 2nd set shows signs of improvement for Coco
Coco has righted the ship, still needs improvement on that serve, down a set she can back to defeat Yulia who came through qualifiers 26 62 62.This is Coco
2nd straight SF in Beijing

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA1000 Beijing,
QFs October 4th,

A.Sabalenka (1) vs K. Muchova
Q.Zheng (5) vs M.Andreeva (17)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

After 3 years together, Iga Swaitek and Tomasz have parted ways, with him she won 4 majors ( probably the reason why she didnt play Beijing, she cited personal reasons)

Apparently Iga is in the middle of first talks with coaches from abroad ( non - Polish)

Latest news, Iga has withdrawn from WTA1000 Wuhan as she needs more time after the changes in her coaching team.
With that news probably wont see Iga play before the WTA end of year finals, her No 1 ranking could be in doubt, though I think she is more interested in finding the right coach to her team.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Only Karolina Muchova could ' pick up that shot" and she edges and wins the 1st set 76(5) over Sabalenka, she can put balls all over the court like no other player and makes life 'hell for her opponent' I just love watching her play and she has a fine tennis brain as well
What a Win for Karolina Muchova she snaps Sabalenka's 15 match winning streak to reach the Beijing SF 76(5) 26 64!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the 2nd QF match which I did not watch,

Zheng came back from being a set down to Mirra Andreeva to make her first WTA1000 SF 57 60 64

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Billie Jean Cup News,

Changes in 2025 with the finals to be contested by 8 teams

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA1000 Beijing SFs,
Saturday 5th October,

C.Gauff (4) vs P.Badosa (15) H2H Badosa 3-2

Q.Zheng (5) vs K.Muchova H2H 1 all.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Paula Badosa who has a perfect 4-0 record in tour level finals, is one set away from her 2nd career WTA1000 final, 6-4 vs Gauff in Beijing
Coco Gauff had other ideas as she wins the 2nd set 64, going 3 sets in the SF
Well done to Coco Gauff comes back from 46 2-4 to defeat Paula Badosa 46 64 62 to reach the final in Beijing
2nd WTA1000 final of her career, awaits the winner of Zheng v Muchova

 

[Hoergren]

Still here. Tauson in a final - at long last - Hongkong WTA125. Finally a sort of tournament she should have started with instead of the big events to tank some confidence. I think she has tanked in this tournament and play in the final tomorrow

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I didnt watch the 2nd SF at Beijing between Muchova v Zheng, though I have recorded the match and will watch it later
K.Muchova d Q.Zheng (5) 63 64 and will play Coco Gauff in the final, well done Karolina!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA1000 Beijing
Sunday 6th October,

Ladies Doubles Final, 4.30pm local time
S.Errani/J.Paolini (5) vs H.Chan/V.Kudermetova

Ladies Singles Final, 7pm local time,

C.Gauff (4) vs K.Muchova H2H Gauff 2-0 ( most recent match USO 2023)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The Wuhan Open, a WTA1000 tournament takes place from Monday October 7th - 15.
This is the 7th edition, but the first time it was played since 2019.
Draws Singles 56, Doubles 28.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka
Top 8 seeds ( of 16) Sabalenka, Pegula, Paolini, Gauff, Zheng, Navarro, Krejcikova, Kasatkina.
The Top 8 seeds get a first round bye
Wild Cards,
Cristian, Eala, Volynets, Wang Xiyu
Protected Ranking,
Irina-Camelia Begu, Tomljanovic, Zhang Shaui
There were 13 withdrawals including,
Swiatek, Rybakina, Ostapenko, Collins, Azarenka, Jabeur

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Congratulations to Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini who are the doubles champions in Beijing defeating Chan/Kudermetova 64 64
Beijing is Errani's and Paolini's 4th title of the season and 5th overall, having won Linz. WTA1000 Rome, Olympic Gold in Paris, Beijing is their biggest HC title as a team.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Coco Gauff serving well in the final, coming forward well, closing in on the net quickly, and defusing Muchova's weapons. Muchova made too many UFE especially in the 1st set
Gauff leading 6-1 and has a break in the 2nd set 3-2

Gauff (4) d Muchova 61 63
Coco wins her 2nd WTA1000 title. 8th career title
Struggled with her serve in the first few rounds of the tournament but found her best tennis in the final. Well done Coco
Back on Top 5.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

New WTA Top Ten ( after WTA1000 Beijing) Monday 7th October,

1. Swiatek 9,785 points
2. Sabalenka 8,716
3. Pegula 5,945
4. Gauff 5,593 (+2)
5. Rybakina 5,481 (-1)
6. Paolini 5,292 (-1)
7. Zheng 4,250
8. Navarro 3,698
9. Collins 3,178
10. Krejcikova 3,161

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA Singles Race to the finals, Monday 7th October,

1. Swaitek 8,285 Q
2. Sabalenka 8,101 Q
3. Rybakina 4,981
4. Gauff 4,978
5. Paolini 4,940
6. Pegula 4,596
7. Navarro 3,568
8. Zheng 3,470

9. Collins 3,178
(12) Krejcikova 2,760 Q

3 qualified, 4 almost qualified, 2 fighting for 1 spot.

Note: I will be surprised if Rybakina plays finals this year, she has withdrawn from WTA1000 Wuhan as well, as Beijing WTA1000.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

New Career Highs on WTA Top 100,
13. Kalinskaya
18. Vekic
19. M. Andreeva
29. Frech
52. Scramkova
55. Volynets
72. Zarazua
79. Starodubtseva

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Qualified WTA Doubles Teams for end of year Finals,
Ostapenko/Kichenok
Hsieh/Mertens
Siniakova/Townsend
Dabrowski/Routliffe
Errani/Paolini