2024 WTA News & Gossip

[tented]

This is interesting
Osaka has decided to change her schedule and now play the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open field. Tournament takes place from Feb 3-12 at Zayed Sports City
Quite frankly I feel she needs more match play, she still is unfit to me, she wasnt getting to balls she would normally get to when she played Garcia at the AO

 

[tossip]

That's great and the matchplay would help her to be match tough for the US spring hardcourt swing.She will eventually catch up with the tour as time goes on.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Evert, Navratilova oppose WTA Finals in S. Arabia

Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova publicly opposed growing speculation that the 2024 WTA Finals will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

www.espn.com

I would love to see the WTA Finals played in Philadelphia. We hosted a Virginia Slims event in November (of all times in the year) from 1991-1994.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA Top Ten Monday 29th January,

1. Swiatek 9770
2. Sabalenka 8905
3. Gauff 7200 (+1)
4. Pegula 5705 (+1)
5. Rybakina 5688 (-2)
6. Jabeur 4076.
7. Zheng 3950 (+8)
8. Vondrousova 3846 (-1)
9. Sakkari 3710 (-1)
10. Muchova 3520 (-1)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

New Career Highs, WTA Top 100,
7. Zheng ( top 10 debut)
23. Navarro
24. Paolini
28 Kostyuk ( top 30 debut)
30. Noskova
35. M.Andreeva
38. Kalinskaya ( top 50 debut)
51. Frech
65 Tomova
96. B. Fruhvirtova ( top 100 debut)
100. Timofeeva

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

First doubles entry at a WTA tournament for Naomi Osaka since Tokyo 2017, been awwile
Osaka and Ons Jabeur will team up for doubles at next weeks Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Some doubles news,
Elise Mertens reunion with Hsieh Su-Wei pays dividends, Mertens reclaimed the AO doubles crown, a title she'd previously won with Aryna Sabalenka in 2021, her 4th GS trophy.
Mertens moves up one place to return to the No 1 spot in the doubles ranking, ending Aussie Storm Hunter 12 weeks at No 1.
Hsieh climbs up four places from No 6 to No 2. The 38 yo is also the reigning champion at RG ( along side Wang Xinyu) and Wimbledon ( along side Barbora Strycova)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Paula Badosa had to retire with a lower back injury at the Thailand Open today, Paula has just returned to the tour, after sustaining a stress fracture in her back in 2023, hopefully this isnt serious.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The WTA are expected to make their decision in the next 2 to 3 weeks, where the WTA Finals are to be played in 2024
There are 4 offers, from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the USA.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jess Pegula who never looked like herself in Australia, misses the entire Middle East swing, ( neck injury) back for Indian Wells.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Competitive SFs in Linz Saturday 3rd February,

Ostapenko (1) vs Pavlyuchenkova
Alexandrova (2) vs Vekic (3)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from WTA1000 Doha
Updates:,
OUT: Pegula, Sabalenka
IN: Andreeva, Stearns
NEXT: Siniakova

 

[Hoergren]

WHAT A MATCH in Austria - over 3 hours and exiting play - well done ladies

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WHAT A MATCH in Austria - over 3 hours and exiting play - well done ladies
View attachment 9219

Just caught my breath, that 3rd set TB Alexandrova was down 1-5 I thought Vekic would win, both players hitting the fluff off the tennis ball ( also watching a mens SF match)

 

[Hoergren]

And Ostapenko is in her racecar mode today - no jetlag today - pure power

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the 2nd SF,Linz,
Ostapenko (1) continues her winning ways and defeats Pavlyucenkova 62 63
Good week for Pavs, will rise to #34 in the rankings and will be in a good position to be a seed at the Sunshine Double

Final Linz tournament, Sunday 4th February,

Ostapenko (1) vs Alexandrova (2)

 

[Hoergren]

And the formula one player wins - congrats Ostapenko

Some stats

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Diana Schnaider defeats the defending champion Zhu Lin 63 26 61 to win her first WTA title in Hua Lin.
The 19 yo, also reached the final in Ningbo, China last September, firmly back in the Top 100, rocketing #108 to #76 on Monday

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Abu Dhabi Opens starts on February 5th,
World No 5 Rybakina and World No 6 Ons Jabeur are the top seeds.
NOTE,
Naomi Osaka will open against a qualifier ( Danielle Collins) the winner will face Rybakina in the 2R
Emma Raducanu will open against Marie Bouzkova. The winner will face Jabeur in the 2R.

Projected QFs,
Rybakina (1) vs Ostapenko (5)
Krejcikova (4) vs Samsonova (8)
Kasatkina (7) vs Sakkari (3)
Haddad Maia (6) vs Jabeur (2)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

New Career Highs WTA Top 100, Monday 5th February,
44. Burel
48. Boulter
60. Avanesyan
64. Tomova
97. Rodionova ( top 100 debut)