2024 WTA News & Gossip

[the AntiPusher]

I saw a video of Rybakina actually practicing yesterday, in Dubai, so far she hasnt withdrawn, though I did say earlier, I would not be surprised if she withdrew, a lot of rumors around regarding her ex coach with abuse etc, who she sacked just before the USO.
I know it is the rule, though what has Krejcikova done since she won Wimbledon? to me the other top 7 girls have shown consistency throughout the year to qualify for the WTA finals.

I hope Rybakina turns it around.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I hope Rybakina turns it around.

Well she is yet to hire a new coach, 2024 for her has been a complete disaster for her in terms of her health and mental state, I am glad she got rid of her 'toxic' coach, she is too good a player, hopefully 2025 is the year, she can get back to playing her great tennis,

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

After many withdrawals in WTA500 Ningbo tournament,
Here are the QFs which look good.

Haddad Maia (6) vs Badosa (8)
Kasatakina (5) vs Putinsteva
Krejcokova (4) vs M.Andreeva
Kalinskaya (7) vs Muchova, Karolina has reached 5 QFs out of 7 WTA tournaments she has played after coming back after 10 months injury break ( wrist surgery).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Belinda Bencic is set to return to the tour at the end of October, following maternity leave, Belinda welcomed her first child Bella in April this year.
Bencic, 27, will play in the ITF W75 Hamburg event on October 28, giving her a chance to 'test her level' ahead of Switzerlands BJK Cup tie against Serbia mid November.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The Hong Kong Tournament, October 28- Nov 3 has added both Naomi Osaka and Emma Rafucanu to the field this week

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just looking at the entry list for teams for The United Cup in 2025
It appears that Danielle Collins might not be retiring this year after all, her name is on the entry list for USA along with Coco Gauff and Desirae Krawczky ( doubles player)

 

[kskate2]

Point taken still consistency for the overall year should be rewarded just my opinion, not just one player winning a GS tournament, and not doing anything after that GS win
Maybe a time to revise the qualification rules for the end of year finals

That's why I didn't want her to win Wimby. I knew she would pull a disappearing act. It's what she does

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Regarding the post I previously posted, Danielle Collins not retiring this year, as her name is on the entry list for team USA at the United Cup 2025
Danielle has posted on social media today,

"It's been a stressful time with these horrific hurricanes that wiped through Florida and on top of it I've been dealing with some issues around my endometriosis and other health challenges. While I was very excited and eager to wrap up my tennis career on a high note this year and jump headfirst into the next chapter of life, things have not gone as planned.
In addition to managing some lingering health challenges the past few months, I've recently been seeing a handful of specialists to better understand what my best path forward is to achieve my ultimate dream, starting a family.
Dealing with endometriosis and fertility is a massive challenge for many woman and something that I am actively traversing, but I am fully confident in the team I am working with.It is just going to take longer that I thought.
So the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025.
While there are no guarantees in life, I hope to build on my 2024 momentum and keep playing until there is more certainty around my personal fertility journey.The only guarantee for now will be some more epic matches.
Thank you to all of my fans and the amazing people behind me that have been so encouraging during this time and also to my closet friends on tour that have been supporting me every step of the way".

I truly hope that you get your wish and will be able to start a family, though in the meantime I cant wait for more of your epic matches you played in 2024 in 2025! Here at TF we affectionately nick name you The Banshee ( that was Kskate nick name for you) on court you are a very intense tennis player, yes very loud as well, personally speaking I would not change a thing about you good luck in 2025!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Results of QFs at WTA500 Ningbo,

Badosa (8) d Haddad Maia 63 62
Kasatkina (5) d Putinsteva 64 16 76(5)
Mirra Andreeva won by retirement against Krejcikova (4) 76(5) 3-2
Muchva d Kalinskaya (7) 26 62 63

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Ningbo Tournament
SFs,

P. Badosa (8) vs D.Kasatkina (5)
Mirra Andreeva vs K. Muchova

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA Doubles 8 teams have now qualified for the end of year championships,

1. Ostapenko/Kichenok 5948 points
2. Dabrowski/Routliffe 5240
3. Su-Wei Hsieh/Mertens 5130
4. Errani/Paolini 5045
5. Krawczyk/Dolehide 4363
6. Ha0-Ching Chan/Kudermetova 3818
7. Melichar-Martinez/Perez 3803
8..Townsend/Siniakova 3221

 

[the AntiPusher]

Regarding the post I previously posted, Danielle Collins not retiring this year, as her name is on the entry list for team USA at the United Cup 2025
Danielle has posted on social media today,

"It's been a stressful time with these horrific hurricanes that wiped through Florida and on top of it I've been dealing with some issues around my endometriosis and other health challenges. While I was very excited and eager to wrap up my tennis career on a high note this year and jump headfirst into the next chapter of life, things have not gone as planned.
In addition to managing some lingering health challenges the past few months, I've recently been seeing a handful of specialists to better understand what my best path forward is to achieve my ultimate dream, starting a family.
Dealing with endometriosis and fertility is a massive challenge for many woman and something that I am actively traversing, but I am fully confident in the team I am working with.It is just going to take longer that I thought.
So the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025.
While there are no guarantees in life, I hope to build on my 2024 momentum and keep playing until there is more certainty around my personal fertility journey.The only guarantee for now will be some more epic matches.
Thank you to all of my fans and the amazing people behind me that have been so encouraging during this time and also to my closet friends on tour that have been supporting me every step of the way".

I truly hope that you get your wish and will be able to start a family, though in the meantime I cant wait for more of your epic matches you played in 2024 in 2025! Here at TF we affectionately nick name you The Banshee ( that was Kskate nick name for you) on court you are a very intense tennis player, yes very loud as well, personally speaking I would not change a thing about you good luck in 2025!

I would be excited if this came from Rafa and his team.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I would be excited if this came from Rafa and his team.

LOL! sorry that ship has passed sad to say

 

[kskate2]

I would be excited if this came from Rafa and his team.

Nads has more $$ and isn't lacking in the family producing gene. I think this is all about $$. It will be a long hard road for her to conceive and this road is not cheap. She probably needs to earn more duckets to ensure she can afford the necessary treatments to start her family.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Woman with endometriosis have a much harder time to conceive than women with other fertility issues
Usually a operation is needed first to observe if the surgeon can cut away the tissue to elevate the pain and to see if that can help being able to fall pregnant
A very close gf of mine tried over 10 years to fall pregnant with the same symptoms as Danielle Sad to say she ended up having to have a partial hysterectomy
I hope Danielle gets her wish in the future and yes the cost is very expensive

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Yeah, I don't think Nadal is coming back, at least in the near term. He is at a stage where he does not need tennis anymore. If he does return (again, I don't think he will), it will be more of a Nick Kygrios type scenario, where he comes back after a few years off, like the lead up to the 2026 US Open or the 2027 Australian Open.

Regarding Danielle Collins, I kind of had a strong feeling after she came back from the Olympics injured that she would return at least for the 2025 Australian Open. You could tell she wasn't fully healthy for the US Open, and I just think she had second thoughts on leaving on that sour note. Now, whether Danielle continues playing after the Australian Open remains to be seen. Maybe Danielle just wants to end her career on a more positive note while healthy, and what better way to do it at the place where she made her only slam final.

Also, with Nick Kygrios, I'm not sure if this is a true comeback or if this is just a one-off.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Not great results at the WTA500 Ningbo SF with Badosa and Muchova ( hip) having to retire due to injury

Mirra Andreeva wins via retirement to Muchova ( hip injury) 62 1-0
Kasatkina (5) wins via retirement to Badosa ( Gastro illness ) 6-4

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Ningbo Open,
Ladies Singles Final,

Daria Kasatkina vs Mirra Andreeva This will be their first meeting.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Daria Kasatkina defeated Mirra Andreeva in 3 sets to win the WTA500 Ningbo Open title 60 46 64
Kasatkina's 8th career title.

The doubles team of D.Shuurs/Y. Yuan defeated the top seeds N.Melichan Martinez/ E.Perez 63 63 to win the doubles title at the WTA500 Ningbo Open

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA Top Ten, Monday 21st October,

1. Sabalenka 9,706
2. Switakek 9,665
3. Gauff 5,973
4. Pwgula 5,785
5. Rybakina 5,373
6. Paolini 5,144
7. Zheng 4,480
8. Navarro 3,698
9. Kasatkina 3,500(+2)
10. Haddad Maia 3,194

Explanation why there is a change at the top of the rankings,
Neither Iga or Aryna were in action last week, bur with some restructuring in the WTA rankings based around WTA500 commitments, is the reason for a change at the top.
Players are required to play 6 WTA500 events and zero pointers are applied for each one missed.
Iga has played 2 WTA500 events this year
Aryna has played 4 WTA500 events this year
Another zero pointers will be applied to both of their totals next week after Tokyo as neither are competing, and they'll both drop more points
Sabalenka to 9641
Swaitek to 9,470
The week after that, their 2023 WTA finals points will drop off ahead of the WTA Finals where a larger gap going into the season final
Sabalenka to 9,016
Swaitek to 7,970.